(A) Effective September 1, 2023, the rates for charge monthly for sewer service shall consist of a base rate without regard to usage and a commodity charge based on sewer usage.
(1) Commercial/industrial customers, institutional customers.
Meter Size (inches ) | Base Rate | Commodity Charge |
Meter Size (inches ) | Base Rate | Commodity Charge |
5/8 | $10.00 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
3/4 | $34.40 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
1 | $46.30 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
1-1/2 | $72.20 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
2 | $291.60 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
3 | $511.90 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
4 | $601.40 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
6 | $902.50 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
(2) Residential customers. Residential customers include single-family residence and rentals of four living units or less.
Meter Size (inches) | Base Rate | Commodity Charge |
5/8 | $10.00 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
3/4 | $10.00 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
1 | $10.00 | $7.67 per 1,000 gallons |
(3) Township customers. The sewer rates charged to customers in Big Rapids Township and Green Township shall be determined by the current User Charge Report.
(4) Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP). Commercial, industrial, and institutional users shall be charged an additional amount per 1,000 gallons of use for the Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) as determined by the current User Charge Report.
(5) Single customer facilities. Sewer lift stations, facilities, or other services on the system which serve only one customer shall be individually charged the cost of that private service.
(B) Surcharges. The City’s surcharge procedure shall be based on one of two methods:
(1) For non-domestic users with a sampling manhole meeting the Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) manual specifications, or other approved method of discharge sampling, on at least a semi-annual basis, the City will conduct composite sampling, on typically four consecutive days to determine the average concentration in mg/l of conventional pollutants from each non-domestic user. These user concentrations will be compared to the domestic background concentration for each parameter found under "Surcharge" in the City's User Charge Report. When the user concentration exceeds the domestic background concentration for a parameter, the excess amount will be the concentration used to calculate the pounds to be surcharged. The flow used shall be the actual monthly flow. Example: the domestic background concentration for total phosphorus is 5 mg/l. User A has an user concentration of 8 mg/l. The surcharge concentration for User A would be 3 mg/l. This concentration multiplied by the monthly flow in millions of gallons * 8.34 pounds per gallon gives the total pounds of phosphorus. If User A consumed 600,000 gallons of water, that would be 0.6 million gallons * 3 mg/l * 8.34 = 15.01 pounds of surcharge phosphorus @ $2.51/lb = $37.67 for that month. The excess concentration surcharge shall remain in effect until the next sampling. Sampling and analysis shall be performed by the City. A split of each sample shall be made available to each user upon written request. The City may obtain additional samples to verify a user's effluent parameters. Any surcharged user may request additional samples based on a changed condition since the last sampling event. Costs for additional samples and analysis shall be paid by the user.
(2) Non-domestic users without an approved sampling manhole or other approved method of discharge sampling that are Food Service Establishments (FSEs), and do not require an industrial discharge permit, may be surcharged according to the surcharge classification procedure established by the City. This allows the City to levy surcharges to FSEs based on the specific type of service conducted (i.e., Full Service Restaurant, Fast Food Restaurant, Institutional Food Service, Grocery Store with Food Preparation, or Baked Goods/Bakery) by the user, in lieu of individual waste sampling results. Users placed in a specific class of FSE by the City may request individual surcharging based on actual sampling and analytical results as long as an adequate sampling manhole is provided and the user reimburses the City for sample collection time and materials and analytical expenses.
(3) Each user subject to surcharges may be billed monthly or quarterly according to water usage or metered discharge.
(C) Food service establishments that do not have sampling manholes. The Superintendent shall classify food service establishments (FSEs) based on type of food product, customer consumption method and food preparation activities within the categories defined below. The waste classification system shall determine how FSEs are surcharged.
(1) Full service restaurants; definition. This FSE typically prepares and serves food in a dining setting. Attending patrons are provided food items served on plates with utensils that have to be washed after the patrons have completed their meals. Cookware is also cleaned on the premises. Food preparation comprises the many activities that constitute the provision of service at a full service establishment - baking, frying, grilling, broiling, boiling, etc. The overwhelming majority of service is provided in seating areas with a relatively small amount of carryout business.
(2) Fast food restaurants; definition. This FSE prepares food intended for immediate consumption. Its food items are often provided in paper or other types of disposable wrappers and containers along with disposable utensils. The patrons of fast food establishments dine in a seating area or take their food on a carryout basis. Cookware is cleaned on the premises. Food preparation comprises the many activities that constitute the provision of service at a full service establishment - baking, frying, grilling, broiling or boiling.
(3) Institutional food service; definition. This FSE category comprises establishments that basically provide food service to the tenants or employees of a commercial, multi-unit/group residential or institutional facility. The food is prepared and/or provided in the location of the facility, usually in a cafeteria with seating. Depending on the type of facility, the food may be delivered to the room of the patrons or they can consume their food in a dining area. The employees of the food service establishment usually work for or are contracted by the facility in which the food is served.
(4) Grocery store with food preparation; definition. This FSE encompasses the various grocers, delis and supermarkets that prepare food. Food preparation comprises the many activities that constitute the provision of service at a full service restaurant- baking, frying, grilling, broiling or boiling. The patrons of these establishments buy food that is ready for consumption and they usually take the food items with them when they leave the establishment, although some may have relatively small areas for patrons to consume food. Cookware and utensils are cleaned on the premises.
(5) Baked goods or bakery; definition. This FSE typically prepares a variety of baked goods, such as bread, pastries, and cakes for retail sale and for consumption by patrons who come to the establishment for baked goods for immediate consumption. The area dedicated to serving walk-in patrons is relatively small compared the total size of the facility with an equally small area dedicated to on premise consumption.
(D) Standard FSE wastewater strengths.
(1) Standard FSE wastewater strengths are established for each pollutant of concern including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Ammonia.
Category | BOD (mg/l) | TSS (mg/l) | TP (mg/l) | Ammonia (mg/l) |
Full service restaurant | 647 | — | 7.6 | — |
Fast food restaurant | 620 | 344 | 8.6 | — |
Institutional food service | 487 | — | 7.9 | — |
Grocery with food preparation | 746 | 600 | 17.0 | 64.0 |
Baked goods or bakery | 655 | 745 | — | — |
(2) The standard FSE wastewater strengths are established based on sampling at locations within each classification in Big Rapids and are posted on the City's website and will be included in the annual Big Rapids Wastewater User Charge Report. These standard FSE wastewater strengths will be updated annually to reflect the results of ongoing sampling.
(E) Surcharge rates.
(1) The Superintendent shall assess a surcharge rate for each FSE user based on the standard FSE wastewater strength for that classification unless sampling is being conducted at the facility. The established surcharge rate for each pollutant and domestic background concentration for each pollutant of concern is updated annually as part of the City's User Charge Report.
(2) Surcharge amounts shall be determined for FSEs by determining the difference between the standard FSE wastewater strength and the domestic background concentration for that pollutant. The measured flow from the facility shall be applied to determine a cost per pound for each pollutant of concern. A facility may choose to conduct site specific sampling if they believe the standard FSE wastewater strengths listed do not adequately represent their discharge. Sampling procedures and frequency must be approved, and are subject to oversight, by the Superintendent. Costs associated with such sampling and lab analysis would be the responsibility of the user. Surcharge calculations shall then be established by averaging grab or composite (as determined by the City to be appropriate) samples taken from the facility's discharge.
(F) Site specific testing.
(1) The owner of a FSE may elect to have the industrial surcharge billed according to representative samples taken at the facility. The FSE owner is required to pay for installation of a sampling point and all sampling costs. Sampling frequency shall be determined by the City and analytical results shall be submitted to the City for review.
(2) Non domestic users that conduct site specific testing shall install an approved sampling manhole together with any meters and equipment deemed necessary by the Superintendent or the City Manager, in order to adequately sample wastewater. Unrestricted access to the sampling manholes shall be available at all times for the Superintendent. A sampling manhole or chamber must be located near the outlet of each lateral, sewer, drain or pipe which connects to the wastewater system. Site inspections may be conducted by the City to verify the user's discharge and note the presence of any sampling devices or grease traps.
('88 Code, Title II, Ch. 22, § 2.128) (Ord. 163-11-80, passed 11-17-80; Am. Ord. 299-1-91, passed 1-21-91; Am. Ord. 307-7-91, passed 7-1-91; Am. Ord. 325-7-93, passed 7-6-93; Am. Ord. 364-8-94, passed 8-22-94; Am. Ord. 391-8-95, passed 8-7-95; Am. Ord. 405-6-96, passed 6-6-96; Am. Ord. 423-7-97, passed 7-7-97; Am. Ord. 435-6-98, passed 7-1-98; Am. Ord. 448-7-99, passed 7-6-99; Am. Ord. 468-6-00, passed 6-5-00; Am. Ord. 481-6-01, passed 6-4-01; Am. Ord. 495-6-02, passed 6-17-02; Am. Ord. 515-6-03, passed 6-2-03; Am. Ord. 532-06- 04, passed 6-7-04; Am. Ord. 537-01-05, passed 1-5-05; Am. Ord. 548-06-05, passed 6-6-05; Am. Ord. 573-10-06, passed 10-2-2006; Am. Ord. 590-10-07, passed 10-15-07; Am. Ord. 613-1- 09, passed 11-2-09; Am. Ord. 640-07-11, passed 7-18-11; Am. Ord. 646-5-12, passed 5-21-12; Am. Ord. 669-09-13, passed 9-16-13; Am. Ord. 684-01-15, passed 1-5-15; Am. Ord. 688-03-15, passed 3-16-15; Am. Ord. 694-05-16, passed 5-16-16; Am. Ord. 700-09-16, passed 9-6-16; Am. Ord. 704-06-17, passed 6-5-17; Am. Ord. 727-07- 18, passed 7-16-18; Am. Ord. 740- 05-19, passed 5-20-19; Am. Ord. 760-06-20, passed 6-15-20; Am. Ord. 770-06-21, passed 6-7-21; Am. Ord. 789-05-22, passed 5-16-22; Am. Ord. 806-09-23, passed 9-5-23)