1. “Developed” shall mean that condition of real property altered from its natural state by the addition to or construction on such property of impervious ground cover or other manmade physical improvements such that the hydrology of the property or portion thereof is affected.

2. An “equivalent residential unit (ERU)” shall mean and be equal to two thousand five hundred square feet of impervious ground cover and is the measure of impervious ground cover to be used by the utility in assessing service charges and system development charges against each parcel of property.

3. “Impervious ground cover” shall mean those hard surfaced areas either which prevent or retard the entry of water into the soil in the manner that such water entered the soil under natural conditions preexistent to development, or which cause water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow than that present under natural conditions preexistent to development, including without limitation such surfaces as roof tops, asphalt or concrete sidewalks, paving, driveways and parking lots, walkways, patio areas, storage areas, and gravel, oiled macadam or other surfaces which similarly affect the natural infiltration or runoff patterns existing prior to development.

4. “Service charge” means the monthly fee levied by the utility upon all developed real property within the boundaries of the utility as authorized by MMC 13.02.040.

5. The “system” shall mean the entire system of storm drainage facilities owned by the utility or over which the utility has control or right of use for the movement and retention of storm and surface waters, including both naturally occurring and manmade facilities.

6. “Undeveloped” shall mean that condition of real property unaltered by the construction or addition to such property by man of impervious ground cover or physical manmade improvements of any kind that change the hydrology of the property from its natural state.

7. The “utility” shall mean the city of Monroe, Washington stormwater management utility, a utility which operates and maintains the storm or surface water drains, channels and facilities, outfalls for storm drainage and the rights and interests in property relating to the system. (Ord. 016/2021 § 2; Ord. 1102, 1996)