Title 57 — Title 57 WATER-SEWER DISTRICTS
15 chapters · 189 sections in this title.
RCW 57.08.012 Fluoridation of water authorized.
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A water district by a majority vote of its board of commissioners may fluoridate the water supply system of the water district. The commissioners may cause the proposition of fluoridation of the water supply to be submitted to the electors of the water district at any general ele…
RCW 57.08.014 Authority to adjust or delay rates or charges for low-income persons—Notice.
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In addition to the authority of a district to establish classifications for rates and charges and impose such rates and charges, a district may adjust or delay those rates and charges for low-income persons or classes of low-income persons , including but not limited to, low-inco…
RCW 57.08.015 Sale of unnecessary property authorized—Notice.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5467.SL) ***The board of commissioners of a district may sell, at public or private sale, property belonging to the district if the board determines that the property is not and will not be needed for district purposes and if the board gives notice of …
RCW 57.08.016 Sale of unnecessary property authorized—Additional requirements for sale of realty.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5467.SL) ***(1) There shall be no private sale of real property where the estimated value exceeds the sum of five thousand dollars. Estimated value shall be determined by the board of commissioners and based upon real estate appraiser and broker advice…
RCW 57.08.017 Application of sections to certain service provider agreements under chapter 70A.140 RCW.
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RCW 57.08.015, 57.08.016, 57.08.050, and 57.08.120 shall not apply to agreements entered into under authority of chapter 70A.140 RCW if there is compliance with the procurement procedure under RCW 70A.140.040.[ 2021 c 65 s 61; 1996 c 230 s 321; 1986 c 244 s 16.]Notes:Explanatory …
RCW 57.08.020 Conveyance of water system to city or town.
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That water districts duly organized under the laws of the state of Washington shall have the following powers in addition to those conferred by existing statutes. Whenever any water district shall have installed a distributing system of mains and laterals and as a source of suppl…
RCW 57.08.030 Election on conveyance—Contract for operation of facilities.
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(1) Whenever any district shall have installed a distributing system of water mains and laterals, and as a source of supply of water shall be purchasing or intending to purchase water from any city or town, and whenever it appears to be advantageous to the water consumers in the …
RCW 57.08.035 Effect when city or town takes over portion of water system.
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Whenever a city or town located wholly or in part within a water district shall enter into a contract with the commissioners of a water district providing that the city or town shall take over all of the operation of the facilities of the district located within its boundaries, s…
RCW 57.08.040 City or town may accept and agree to maintain system.
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Whenever any city or town is selling or proposes to sell water to a district, the city or town may by ordinance accept a conveyance of any distributing system and enter into a contract with the district for the maintenance and repair of the system and the supplying of water to th…
RCW 57.08.041 Contracting for management of water storage assets—Notice—Procedure—Definitions.
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(1) Any water-sewer district may elect to contract for asset management service of its water storage assets in accordance with this section. If a water-sewer district elects to contract under this subsection for all, some, or one component of water storage asset management servic…
RCW 57.08.044 Contracts for acquisition, use, operation, etc., authorized—Service to areas in other districts.
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A district may enter into contracts with any county, city, town, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, or with any private person or corporation, for the acquisition, ownership, use, and operation of any property, facilities, or services, within or without the di…
RCW 57.08.047 Provision of water, reclaimed water, sewer, or drainage service beyond district or city subject to review by boundary review board.
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The provision of water, reclaimed water, sewer, or drainage service beyond the boundaries of a special purpose district or city may be subject to potential review by a boundary review board under chapter 36.93 RCW.[ 2009 c 253 s 3; 1999 c 153 s 8; 1996 c 230 s 310; 1989 c 84 s 57…
RCW 57.08.050 Contracts for materials and work—Notice—Bids—Small works roster—Waiver of requirements.
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(1) All work ordered, the estimated cost of which is in excess of $150,000 if more than a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project, or a public works project in excess of $75,500 if only a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project, sha…
RCW 57.08.060 Powers as to street lighting systems—Establishment.
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In addition to the powers given districts by law, a district shall also have power to acquire, construct, maintain, operate, and develop street lighting systems.To establish a street lighting system, the board of commissioners shall adopt a resolution proposing a street lighting …
RCW 57.08.065 Powers as to mutual systems—Overlapping districts—Operation of system of sewerage or drainage by former water district.
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(1) A district shall have power to establish, maintain, and operate a mutual water, sewerage, drainage, and street lighting system, a mutual system of any two or three of the systems, or separate systems.(2) Where any two or more districts include the same territory as of July 1,…
RCW 57.08.081 Rates and charges—Delinquencies—Heat-related alert limitations.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2575.SL) ***(1) Subject to RCW 57.08.005(7), the commissioners of any district shall provide for revenues by fixing rates and charges for furnishing sewer and drainage service and facilities to those to whom service is available or for providing water,…
RCW 57.08.085 Public property subject to rates and charges for drainage facilities.
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Except as otherwise provided in RCW 90.03.525, any public entity and public property, including state of Washington property, shall be subject to rates and charges for drainage facilities to the same extent as private persons and private property are subject to such rates and cha…
RCW 57.08.100 Health care, group, life, and social security insurance contracts for employees', commissioners' benefit—Joint action with other districts.
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Subject to chapter 48.62 RCW, a district, by a majority vote of its board of commissioners, may enter into contracts to provide health care services and/or group insurance and/or term life insurance and/or social security insurance for the benefit of its employees and may pay all…
RCW 57.08.105 Liability insurance for officials and employees.
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The board of commissioners of each district may purchase liability insurance with such limits as it may deem reasonable for the purpose of protecting its officials and employees against liability for personal or bodily injuries and property damage arising from their acts or omiss…
RCW 57.08.120 Lease of real property—Notice, hearing—Performance bond or security.
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A district may lease out real property which it owns or in which it has an interest and which is not immediately necessary for its purposes upon such terms as the board of commissioners deems proper. No such lease shall be made until the district has first caused notice thereof t…
RCW 57.08.140 RCW 39.33.060 to govern on sales by district for park and recreational purposes.
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The provisions of RCW 57.08.015, 57.08.016, and 57.08.120 shall have no application as to the sale or conveyance of real or personal property or any interest or right therein by a district to the county or park and recreation district wherein such property is located for park and…
RCW 57.08.150 Extensions by private party—Preparation of plans—Review by district.
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A district may not require that a specified engineer prepare plans or designs for extensions to its systems if the extensions are to be financed and constructed by a private party, but may review, and approve or reject, the plans or designs which have been prepared for such a pri…
RCW 57.08.160 Authority to assist customers in the acquisition of water conservation equipment—Limitations.
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Any district is hereby authorized, within limits established by the Constitution of the state of Washington, to assist the owners of structures in financing the acquisition and installation of fixtures, systems, and equipment, for compensation or otherwise, for the conservation o…
RCW 57.08.170 Water conservation plan—Emergency water use restrictions—Fine.
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A district may adopt a water conservation plan and emergency water use restrictions. The district may enforce a water conservation plan and emergency water use restrictions by imposing a fine as provided by resolution for failure to comply with any such plan or restrictions. The …
RCW 57.08.180 Sewer, drainage, and water connections without district permission—Penalties.
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It is unlawful and a misdemeanor to make, or cause to be made, or to maintain any connection with any sewer, drainage, or water system of any district, or with any sewer, drainage, or water system which is connected directly or indirectly with any sewer, drainage, or water system…
RCW 57.08.190 Cooperative watershed management.
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In addition to the authority provided in RCW 57.08.005, a water district, sewer district, or water-sewer district may participate in and expend revenue on cooperative watershed management actions, including watershed management partnerships under RCW 39.34.210 and other intergove…
RCW 57.12.010 Commissioners—President and secretary—Compensation.
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The governing body of a district shall be a board of commissioners consisting of three members, or five or seven members as provided in RCW 57.12.015. The board shall annually elect one of its members as president and another as secretary.The board shall by resolution adopt rules…
RCW 57.12.015 Increase in number of commissioners.
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(1) In the event a three-member board of commissioners of any district with any number of customers determines by resolution that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, or if the board of a district with any nu…
RCW 57.12.017 Decrease in number of commissioners.
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(1) Except as provided in RCW 52.14.020, in the event a five-member or seven-member board of commissioners of any district determines by resolution that it would be in the best interest of the district to decrease the number of commissioners from five to three, or from seven to f…
RCW 57.12.020 Vacancies.
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A vacancy on the board shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW. In addition, if a commissioner is absent from three consecutive scheduled meetings unless by permission of the board, the office may be declared vacant. However, such an action shall not be t…
RCW 57.12.030 Commissioners—Terms.
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Except as in this section otherwise provided, the term of office of each district commissioner shall be six years, such term to be computed from the first day of January following the election, and commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and ass…
RCW 57.12.035 Commissioners—Void in candidacy, fewer than one hundred residents in district.
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If the district has fewer than one hundred residents, and if the filing period is reopened for a district commissioner under RCW 29A.24.171 or 29A.24.181 due to a void in candidacy, any person who is a qualified elector of the state of Washington and who holds title or evidence o…
RCW 57.12.039 Commissioner districts.
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(1) Notwithstanding RCW 57.12.020 and 57.12.030, the board of commissioners may provide by majority vote that subsequent commissioners be elected from commissioner districts within the district. If the board exercises this option, it shall divide the district into three, five, or…
RCW 57.16.010 General comprehensive plan of improvements—Approval of engineer, director of health, and city, town, or county—Amendments.
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Before ordering any improvements or submitting to vote any proposition for incurring any indebtedness, the district commissioners shall adopt a general comprehensive plan for the type or types of facilities the district proposes to provide. A district may prepare a separate gener…
RCW 57.16.015 Expenditures before plan adopted and approved.
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No expenditure for carrying on any part of a general comprehensive plan shall be made other than the necessary salaries of engineers, clerical, office expenses, and other professional expenses of the district, and the cost of engineering, surveying, preparation, and collection of…
RCW 57.16.045 Additions and betterments—Annexed areas.
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Whenever an area has been annexed to a district after the adoption of a general comprehensive plan, the commissioners shall adopt by resolution a plan for additions and betterments to the original comprehensive plan to provide for the needs of the area annexed.[ 1996 c 230 s 503.…
RCW 57.16.050 Districts authorized—Special assessments—Bonds.
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(1) A district may establish local improvement districts within its territory; levy special assessments and allow annual installments on the special assessments, together with interest thereon, extending over a period not exceeding twenty years, on all property specially benefite…
RCW 57.16.060 Resolution or petition to form district—Procedure—Written protest—Notice.
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Local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts to carry out the whole or any portion of the general comprehensive plan of improvements or plan providing for additions and betterments to an original general comprehensive plan previously adopted may be initiated…
RCW 57.16.062 Hearing—Improvement ordered—Divestment of power to order—Notice—Appeal—Assessment roll.
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Whether an improvement district is initiated by petition or resolution, the board shall conduct a public hearing at the time and place designated in the notice to property owners. At this hearing the board shall hear objections from any person affected by the formation of the imp…
RCW 57.16.065 Notice must contain statement that assessments may vary from estimates.
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Notice given to the public or to the owners of specific lots, tracts, or parcels of land relating to the formation of an improvement district shall contain a statement that actual assessments may vary from assessment estimates so long as they do not exceed a figure equal to the i…
RCW 57.16.070 Hearing on assessment roll—Notice.
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Before approval of the roll a notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the improvement district, stating that the roll is on file and open to inspection in the office of the secretary, and fixing the time, not less t…
RCW 57.16.073 Sanitary sewer and potable water facilities—Notice to certain property owners.
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Whenever it is proposed that an improvement district finance sanitary sewer or potable water facilities, additional notice of the public hearing on the proposed improvement district shall be mailed to the owners of any property located outside of the proposed improvement district…
RCW 57.16.080 Enlarged district.
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If any portion of the system after its installation is not adequate for the purpose for which it was intended, or if for any reason changes, alterations, or betterments are necessary in any portion of the system after its installation, then an improvement district with boundaries…
RCW 57.16.090 Review.
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The decision of the district board of commissioners upon any objections made within the time and in the manner herein prescribed may be reviewed by the superior court upon an appeal thereto taken in the following manner. The appeal shall be made by filing written notice of appeal…
RCW 57.16.100 Conclusiveness of roll—Correction of errors.
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(1) Whenever any assessment roll for local improvements shall have been confirmed by the district board of commissioners, the regularity, validity, and correctness of the proceedings relating to the improvements, and to the assessment therefor, including the action of the distric…
RCW 57.16.110 Segregation of assessment—Procedure.
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Whenever any land against which there has been levied any special assessment by any district shall have been sold in part or divided, the board of commissioners of the district shall have the power to order a segregation of the assessment.Any person desiring to have a special ass…
RCW 57.16.140 Excess sewer capacity or water supply not grounds for zoning decision challenge.
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The construction of or existence of sewer capacity or water supply in excess of the needs of the density allowed by zoning shall not be grounds for any legal challenge to any zoning decision by the county.[ 1996 c 230 s 504; 1982 c 213 s 4.]Notes:Part headings not law—Effective d…
RCW 57.16.150 Foreclosure of assessments—Attorneys' fees.
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Judgments foreclosing special assessments pursuant to RCW 35.50.260 may also allow to districts, in addition to delinquent installments, interest, penalties, and costs, such attorneys' fees as the court may adjudge reasonable.[ 1996 c 230 s 611; 1987 c 449 s 16.]Notes:Part headin…
RCW 57.16.160 Review of sewer general comprehensive plan—Time limitations—Notice of rejection of plan or extension of timeline.
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For any new or revised sewer general comprehensive plan submitted by a water-sewer district for review under this chapter, the appropriate state agency shall review and either approve, conditionally approve, reject, or request amendments within ninety days of the receipt of the s…
RCW 57.20.010 General obligation bonds—Term—Issuance—Excess bond retirement levies.
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When general district indebtedness payable from annual tax levies to be made in excess of the constitutional and/or statutory tax limitations has been authorized, the district may issue its general obligation bonds in payment thereof.The bonds shall not have terms in excess of tw…