The quantity of water discharged into the sewage system and obtained from sources other than the utility that serves the Town shall be determined by the Town in a manner as the Town reasonably elects, and thesewage service shall be billed at the appropriate rates set out in this chapter. The Utility Billing Office may also make allowances in unique situations, such as but not limited to water leaks and their subsequent documented repair.
(A) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids into the Town's sewage system, either directly or indirectly, is not a user of water supplied by the water utility serving the Town and the water used thereon or therein is not measured by a water meter, or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the Town, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the Town. In order to ascertain the rate or charge provided in this chapter, the owner or other interested party shall, at his expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the Town for the determining of sewage discharge.
(B) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids into the Town's sewage system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of water supplied by the water utility serving the Town, and in addition, is a user of water from another resource which is not measured by a water meter or is measured by a meter not acceptable to the Town, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the Town. In order to ascertain the rates or charges, the owner or other interested party shall, at his expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the Town for the determination of sewage discharge.
(C) In the event two (2) or more residential lots, parcels of real estate or buildings discharging sanitary sewage, water or other liquids into the Town’s sewage system, either directly or indirectly, are users of water and the quantity of water is measured by a single water meter, then, for billing purposes, the quantity of water used shall be averaged for each user and the base charge and the flow rates and charges shall apply to each of the number of residential lots, parcels of real estate or buildings served through the single water meter.
(D) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharges sanitary sewage, industrial waste, water or other liquids into the Town's sewage system, either directly or indirectly, and uses water in excess of ten thousand (10,000) gallons per month, and it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Town that a portion of the water as measured by the water meter or meters does not and cannot enter the sanitary sewage system, then the owner or other interested party shall, at his expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the Town for the determination of sewage discharge.
(E) Where a metered water supply is used for fire protection as well as for other uses, the Town may, at its discretion, make adjustments in the user charge as may be equitable.
(F) Annual COLA increase. Subject to annual review by the Town Council, on January 1, 2022 and on January 1 of each year, beginning in 2023, a 1% cost of living adjustment ("COLA") shall be added to the previous year's rates and charges for all customers. This 1% increase shall occur automatically each year, subject to the Town Council's annual review in July of each year, unless and until such time that the Town Council amends or adjusts the percentage increase for the next calendar year or otherwise amends this division, which may include but not be limited to an additional annual increase as determined by the Town Council.
(`92 Code, §9-63) (Ord. 84-14, passed 11-20-84; Am. Ord. 2011-06, passed 3-24-11; Am. Ord. 2015-13, passed 6-11-15; Am. Ord. 2020-25, passed 12-17-20; Am. Ord. 2021-46, passed 12-16-21)