(A) The rates and charges for sewer service shall be based insofar as possible upon the quantity of water supplied to the respective premises as the same is measured by water meter(s) used by the utility companies supplying water to sewer customers. There shall be charged monthly to the owner or occupant of each and every lot, parcel of land, building or premises, within the corporate limits, discharging sewage, water or other liquid wastes connected with the municipal sewer system, the following rates for user charges and rates for debt service charges based upon the water meter readings or estimated water consumption as follows:
(1) Commodity charge:
First 200 cubic feet (minimum bill) $6.9000/monthly
Over 200 cubic feet $2.63/100 cubic feet
(2) Late payment charge: 10% will be added if bill is not paid by the 10th day after billing date.
(3) Reconnect charges: $20.00 for customers of Berea Water Utility; $40.00 for customers of Southern Madison Water District.
(4) Discontinuance of service for non-payment: If the account is not paid by the 20th day after the date of mailing of the monthly bill, service may be discontinued in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Berea Municipal Sewer Utility.
(5) Additional charges: There shall be added to the bill of each customer as a separate item an amount equal to the proportionate part of any license, franchise or similar fee or tax now or hereafter imposed upon the Berea Municipal Sewer Utility by any governmental body or entity, including but not limited to the Berea Independent School District or the Madison County School District, or similar administrative or governmental body.
(B) A schedule of tapping fees or connection fees or charges for each connection to the sanitary sewer system of the city is established. From and after the effective date of this chapter, the schedule of tapping fees or connection fees or charges shall be paid to the city within ninety (90) days after notice is given by the city to the owner or occupant of any premises where sanitary sewer service is made available by the city that the adjacent sanitary sewer facility is capable of receiving sewage. The schedule of tapping fees or connection fees or charges is as follows:
Tapping and Connection Charges:
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Meter Size (Inches)
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Maximum Flow (GPM)
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Equivalent Factor
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Connection Fee ($)
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Tapping and Connection Charges:
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Meter Size (Inches)
|
Maximum Flow (GPM)
|
Equivalent Factor
|
Connection Fee ($)
|
5/8 | 20 | 1.0 | 400 |
1 | 50 | 2.5 | 1,000 |
1-1/2 | 100 | 5.0 | 2,000 |
2 | 160 | 8.0 | 3,200 |
3 | 320 | 16.0 | 6,400 |
4 | 500 | 25.0 | 10,000 |
In the event a larger, or an additional meter is installed, additional charges based on the foregoing shall be imposed and paid.
(C) An application shall be submitted for all new sewer line connections or extensions, along with the proposed plans for construction, for approval by the commission prior to commencement of the work thereon. The cost of construction of all sewer service lines or extensions shall also be paid by the customer applying for a new service line connection. Upon approval and immediate payment of the sewer tapping and connection fee, the sewer commission shall grant to the applicant a permit to tap or connect the service line to the existing public sewage treatment system. All construction and improvements shall be done according to the existing building codes or other applicable building codes and shall be subject to inspection and approval by the city prior to connecting to the public sewage treatment system. Sewer line extensions and service line connections constructed in, along or upon public streets, roads, alleys, or dedicated utility easements, after inspection, approval, and acceptance by the commission, shall become a part of the public sewer system of the city.
(D) Normal monthly billings for sewer service shall be determined on the basis of each user's metered water consumption and rates provided by subsection (A). It is recognized in the assessment of charges that not all metered water consumption is returned to the sewers. For the purpose of assessing service charges equitably, the average percentage of metered water consumption returned to the sewer is deemed to be ninety (90%) percent. Where it can be evidenced that the proportion of metered water consumption actually returned to the treatment system by an individual customer is significantly different from ninety (90%) percent, service charges shall be determined on the basis of actual wastewater discharge. In this event, the volume of wastewater discharge shall be determined by using additional water meters to segregate water consumption that is returned to the sewers and/or actual consumption that is returned to the sewers and/or actual metering of wastewater flows and/or any other procedure determined by the user and the sewer commission as a reasonable method of determining flows. The city reserves the right to require the installation of additional water meters and/or wastewater flow meters for the purpose of determining actual monthly wastewater flows.
(Ord. No. 17-91, 6-25-91; Amd. Ord. No. 18-95, 9-19-95; Amd. Ord. 20-97, 9-16-97; Amd. Ord. No. 10-08, 9-16-08; Amd. Ord. No. 17-09, 8-18-09
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