The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures and regulations to be followed in the calculation, establishment and collection of charges from customers so that the City can pay for the operation and maintenance, including replacement, as herein defined, of the wastewater treatment system and for the sewer bond debt retirement for financing the sewerage system improvements.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this chapter are as follows:
1. “Billing agency” means the City of Ankeny Finance Department or any other agency designated by the City to maintain utility customer accounts, read meters, prepare and mail bills or other correspondence, and account for utility payments.
(Ord. 1798 – Apr. 14 Supp.)
2. “EPA” means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
3. “Operation and maintenance” means all expenditures during the useful life of the wastewater treatment works for materials, labor, utilities, and other items which are necessary for the management and maintenance of said treatment facilities to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
4. “Replacement” means expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the wastewater treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such facilities were designed and constructed. The term “operation and maintenance” includes replacement.
5. “Residential customer” means any customer whose lot, parcel of real estate or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only.
6. “Service availability charge” means a fixed charge imposed on each separately metered residential, commercial, industrial, or educational premises which is physically connected to the utility, consisting of the equivalent meter cost, based on the water meter size, or the size of a wastewater meter, if installed, plus the billing cost.
7. “Useful life” means the estimated period during which the wastewater treatment works will be operated.
8. “User charge” means that portion of the total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance and replacement of the wastewater treatment works.
9. “Wastewater” means the spent water of a community. From the standpoint of source, it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water, and storm water that may be present. Wastewater is also commonly known as “sanitary sewage.”
10. “Wastewater treatment works” means the devices and systems used for the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal wastewater, domestic wastewater, or liquid industrial wastes. These include the collecting lateral, trunk, interceptor and outfall sewer systems, pumping, power and other equipment and appurtenances, extensions, improvement, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clear well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the land, that will be an integral part of the treatment process or used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment; or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treatment, separating or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
(Ord. 1656 – Apr. 10 Supp.)
11. “Water meter” means a water volume measuring and recording device, furnished and/or installed by the City or furnished and/or installed by a user and approved by the City.
The user charge system shall generate adequate annual revenues to pay: (i) costs of annual operation and maintenance including replacement; and (ii) costs associated with sewer bond retirement for bonds now outstanding including payments to all sinking, revenue, depreciation, extension and improvement funds established in the ordinances or resolutions authorizing such bonds; and (iii) when required, costs associated with sewer bond retirement of bonds to be issued in the future. That portion of the total sewer use charge which is designated for operation and maintenance including replacement of the treatment works shall be established by this chapter.
That portion of the total user charge collected which is designated for operation and maintenance including replacement purposes as established in Section 98.07 shall be deposited in two separate non-lapsing funds, as follows:
1. A fund designated as the “Sewer Fund” for the specific purpose of defraying operation and maintenance costs, excluding replacement, of the wastewater treatment works.
2. A fund designated as the “Sewer Improvement Fund” for the specific purpose of ensuring replacement needs over the useful life of the wastewater treatment works.
Deposits in these two funds shall be made at least annually in amounts to be designated.
Every customer shall pay to the City monthly sewer user fees as hereinafter provided. The total monthly charge shall be the sum of the service availability charge plus the sewer user charge based on actual or average sewer use figures, as determined in Section 98.06.
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