(a) Generally. Charges for metered water and wastewater service are established as provided in this section, and the charges shall begin when a lot is connected to the County's water or wastewater system.
(b) Charges. The charge for each 1,000 gallons of water usage is $3.23 for water and $5.67 for wastewater. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the County Executive shall set the charges for water and wastewater usage in accordance with § 4-11-105 of this Code and may increase the charges in an amount not to exceed 5.00% of the then current charges. Any increase in charges in an amount greater than 5.00% shall be set by the County Council by ordinance. There is an account maintenance charge of $6.00 per billing cycle regardless of the amount of usage.
(c) Capital facility recoupment charge.
(1) There is a capital facility recoupment charge of:
(i) $2.86;
(ii) $3.15, beginning on July 1, 2020;
(iii) $3.46, beginning on July 1, 2021; and
(iv) $3.81, beginning on July 1, 2022.
(2) Any residential customer whose water usage exceeds 30,000 gallons in any billing quarter shall be charged, in addition to the usage charges in subsection (b), the capital facility recoupment charge for every full 1,000 gallons of water used in excess of 30,000 gallons.
(d) Fire hydrant connection permits. For water obtained from a public fire hydrant, the quarterly charge for each 1,000 gallons of water usage is the usage charge paid by customers connected to the County system, plus the quarterly capital facility recoupment charge set forth in subsection (c) for every full 1,000 gallons of water usage.
(e) Reduction of sewerage charge. For a residential user, where the water usage of the first full billing quarter beginning after April 30 exceeds 110% of the average of the previous three billing quarters, the owner's sewerage charge shall be reduced by the amount over 110% of the average.
(f) Minimum quarterly usage charge if property not in compliance with connection requirements. The minimum quarterly usage charge for water and wastewater service for a property not in compliance with the connection requirements of § 13-5-304 is equal to 40% of the usage charge for water and wastewater that would be incurred if the property were to be connected to the County system as computed by the Department.
(g) Irrigation systems on nonresidential property. For water used by an irrigation system connected to the County's water system by separate meter in accordance with § 13-5-813(i), the quarterly charge for each 1,000 gallons of water usage is the usage charge paid by customers connected to the County system, plus the quarterly capital facility recoupment charge set forth in subsection (c) for every full 1,000 gallons of water usage. This subsection does not apply to a nonresidential user who paid a capital facility connection charge for water usage by an irrigation system.
(1985 Code, Art. 6, § 5-201.2) (Bill No. 22-88; Bill No. 53-88; Bill No. 69-90; Bill No. 35-93; Bill No. 116-93; Bill No. 49-94; Bill No. 28-95; Bill No. 49-96; Bill No. 54-99; Bill No. 24-03; Bill No. 80-03; Bill No. 63-04; Bill No. 6-05; Bill No. 10-05; Bill No. 16-11; Bill No. 37-11; Bill No. 58-12; Bill No. 73-15; Bill No. 42-16; Bill No. 41-19
; Bill No. 37-23)