(A) Classification of users. Users of the wastewater system shall be classified into two (2) general classes or categories depending upon the user's contribution of wastewater loads; each class user being identified as follows:
(1) Class I: Those users discharging only sanitary waste or whose average biochemical oxygen demand is two hundred fifty milligrams per liter (250 mg/l) by weight or less, and whose suspended solids discharge is two hundred fifty milligrams per liter (250 mg/l) by weight or less.
(2) Class II: Those users whose average biochemical oxygen demand exceeds two hundred fifty milligrams per liter concentration (250 mg/l) by weight and whose suspended solids exceeds two hundred fifty milligrams per liter concentration (250 mg/l).
(B) Determination of costs. The Mayor and City Council shall establish monthly rates and charges for the use of the wastewater system and for services supplied by the wastewater system. Said charges shall be based on a two-tier system. The initial tier will consist of a minimum monthly fee paid by all users of the wastewater collection and treatment system. It will be based upon recovery of the city's bonded indebtedness and a unit charge per 1,000 gallons of use based upon recovery of billing and accounting costs, operation and maintenance costs.
(1) All users who fall under Class I shall pay a minimum monthly fee and a single unit charge expressed as dollars per 1,000 gallons of water purchased ($/1,000 gallons) with the following formula:
Cd = Cdt/N
Cu = Ct/Vt(Vu)
Cd = Charge to user for recovery of debt service
Cdt = Total debt service charge per year
Cu = Charge to user per unit time
Ct = Total O & M costs per unit time
N = Total number of sewer customers
Vt = Total volume of waste per unit time
Vu = Volume contributed by a user per unit time
(2) All users who fall within the Class II classification shall pay the debt service charge and the base unit charge per 1,000 gallons of water purchased as for the Class I users, and in addition shall pay a surcharge rate on the excessive amounts of biochemical oxygen demand suspended solids and other pollutants in direct proportion to the actual discharge quantities.
(3) The volume of water purchased which is used in the calculation of sewer use charges may be adjusted by the City if a user purchases a significant volume of water for a consumptive use and does not discharge it to the public sewers (i.e., filling swimming pools, industrial heating, humidifying equipment, etc.). The user shall be responsible for documenting the quantity of water discharged to the public sewer. Owners of swimming pools have the option of measuring pool water with an approved meter device, purchase of which is the pool owner's responsibility.
(4) When the total of other pollutants, suspended solids and/or biochemical oxygen demand quantities discharged into the treatment works is in excess of those described hereinbefore, the following formula shall be used to compute the appropriate user charge:
Cs = [Bc(B) + Sc(S) + Pc(P)]Vu
Cd = Charge to users for recovery of debt service
Cdt = Total debt service charge per year
N = Total number of sewer customers
Cu = Charge to user per unit time
Ct = Total O&M costs per unit time
Vt = Total volume of waste per unit time
Vu = Volume contributed by a user per unit time
CS = Surcharge for excessive strength wastewater
Bc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of BOD
Sc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of SS
Pc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of any pollutant
B = Concentration of BOD from a user above a base level
S = Concentration of SS from a user above a base level
P = Concentration of any pollutant from a user above a base level
(5) Users discharging only sanitary waste will be charged in accordance with the Class I model while those discharging higher strength wastes will be charged in accordance with Class I and II models.
(6) Values for pollutants discharged by individual users will be determined by the manner described in this chapter.
(7) Operation, maintenance, and depreciation costs are estimated for the first year of operation in order to determine the initial user charge. The charges will be adjusted one year after initial start-up and then biennially thereafter to reflect actual O&M costs associated with wastewater treatment.
(8) U.S.E.P.A. regulations which govern the Kentucky State Loans, require that the operation, maintenance and depreciation portion of the user charge be based on a flat rate per thousand gallons rather than on a decreasing water usage increase. Therefore, this portion of the user charge system will be based on a flat rate. The debt service portion will be charged to the customers at a flat rate.
(9) Surcharge for higher strength wastes. At such time that a user discharges a higher strength waste than average sewage, an equitable surcharge will be levied based upon costs of chemicals, time and maintenance required to treat the extra component of waste.
(10) User charge system update. The user charge system will be reviewed and updated on a biennial basis, or more frequently if deemed appropriate.
(11) Operation, maintenance, depreciation, and debt service costs and water usage by user category is used to calculate average annual usage and the associated cost of the user charge system. A detailed breakdown of the current sewer use charges for each residential and commercial customer and A.B. Chandler School are as follows:
Usage (gal./mo.) Residential and Commercial School
0-2000 $39.55 $233.09
3000 46.20 239.74
4000 52.85 246.38
5000 59.50 253.03
6000 66.14 259.68
7000 72.79 266.33
8000 79.44 272.98
9000 86.09 279.62
10000 92.74 286.27
20000 - - 352.75
30000 - - 419.23
40000 - - 485.71
50000 - - 552.19
(Ord. passed 12-5-91; Am. Ord. passed 8-4-94; Am. Ord. 2000-02A, passed 4-20-00; Am. Ord. 2007.02A, passed 3-2-07; Am. Ord. 2013-03, passed 2-26-13; Am. Ord. 2019.03, passed 8-15-19)