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(A) Classes.
(1) All users of the wastewater treatment works shall be identified as belonging to one of the following user classes:
(a) Residential;
(b) Commercial;
(c) Industrial;
(d) Institutional; or
(e) Governmental.
(2) The allocation of users to these classes for the purpose of assessing sewer service charges shall be the responsibility of the City Clerk-Treasurer. Allocation of all users to user classes shall be based on the substantive intent of the definitions contained in this chapter. Industrial users discharging segregated domestic-strength waste only can be classified as commercial users for the purpose of rate determination.
(B) User charges.
(1) Each user shall be assessed and pay user charges in proportion to the user’s proportionate contribution of wastewater flows and loadings to the treatment works, with a minimum rate for pollutant loadings being the rate established for domestic-strength waste.
(2) The charges assessed users discharging domestic-strength waste shall be established proportionately on the basis of billable wastewater volume. Billable wastewater volume shall generally be calculated as metered water usage.
(C) Capital recovery charges.
(1) Each user shall be assessed and pay capital recovery charges in proportion to the user’s proportionate contribution of wastewater flows and loadings to the treatment works, with a minimum rate for pollutant loadings being the rate established for domestic-strength waste.
(2) The charges assessed users discharging domestic-strength waste shall be established proportionately on the basis of billable wastewater volume. Billable wastewater volume shall generally be calculated as metered water usage.
(D) Billable wastewater volume and loadings.
(1) The billable wastewater volume shall be calculated from the volume of metered water usage. For all users discharging domestic-strength waste, billable wastewater volume shall be equal to the metered water usage, as measured throughout the year. The billable amounts of wastewater loadings shall be calculated from the volume of metered usage, where the billable quantities will be those attributable to domestic-strength waste.
(2) For users with unmetered water services or not connected to the city’s water system, the billable wastewater volume shall be calculated from the volume of metered water usage or, at the discretion of the city, from the measurement or estimate of effluent flow at the user’s point of discharge. Measurements shall be according to a regular program prescribed by the city.
(3) For all users discharging extra-strength waste, billable wastewater volume shall be calculated from the volume of metered water usage or, at the discretion of the city, from the measurement of effluent flow at the user’s point of discharge. Measurements shall be according to a regular program prescribed by the city. For all users discharging extra-strength waste, billable amounts of wastewater loadings shall be calculated by the measurement of these wastes according to a program prescribed by the city, in keeping with the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater and in accordance with other provisions of this chapter.
(4) The city may, at its discretion, require any user to install a water meter, wastewater meter, or such additional water meters as may be necessary to determine wastewater volume. When so required, such meter shall be of a type approved by the city, equipped with a remote registering recorder, and located at an accessible site on the owner’s property.
(E) Determination of user charges.
(1) User charges shall consist of a volume charge for domestic-strength waste and, if necessary, a surcharge for extra-strength waste. Such charges shall be developed in accordance with the approved sewer service charge system and computed in accordance with the formula presented below.
(2) User charge is as follows: UC = MUC + (VUC x F) + SUC
Where:
UC = User charge
MUC = Minimum charge ($/billing period) for administration costs and one unit of domestic-strength wastewater (100 cubic feet).
VUC = Volume charge per 100 cubic feet for OM&R costs.
F = Billable wastewater volume in 100 cubic feet.
SUC = Surcharge for extra-strength waste.
(3) Surcharges for extra-strength waste, if applicable, shall be computed in accordance with the formula presented below.
SUC = 0.00624 x F x [(B x BOMR) + (T x TOMR) + (P x POMR)].
Where:
0.00624 = Conversion factor.
B = Concentration of BOD5 in excess of domestic-strength waste.
F = Billable wastewater volume in 100 cubic feet.
T = Concentration of TSS in excess of domestic-strength waste.
P = Concentration of phosphorus in excess of domestic-strength waste.
BOMR = Unit surcharge per pound of BOD5.
TOMR = Unit surcharge per pound of TSS.
POMR = Unit surcharge per pound of phosphorus.
SUC = Surcharge for extra-strength waste.
(F) Determination of capital recovery charges.
(1) Capital recovery charges shall consist of a volume charge for domestic-strength waste and, if necessary, a surcharge for extra-strength waste. Such charges shall be developed in accordance with the approved sewer service charge system and computed in accordance with the formula presented below.
CRC = MCR + (Vcr x F) + Scr
Where:
CRC = Capital recovery charge.
MCR = Minimum charge ($/billing period) for capital-related costs assigned to customer service and one unit of domestic-strength wastewater volume.
Vcr = Volume charge per 1,000 gallons for capital-related costs.
F = Billable wastewater volume in 1,000 gallons.
Scr = Surcharge for extra-strength waste.
(2) Surcharges for extra-strength waste, if applicable, shall be computed in accordance with the formula presented below.
Scr = 0.00624 x F x [(B x BCR) + (T x TCR) + (P x PCR)].
Where:
0.00624 = Conversion factor.
B = Concentration of BOD5 in excess of domestic-strength waste.
T = Concentration of TSS in excess of domestic-strength .
P = Concentration of phosphorus in excess of domestic-strength waste.
F = Billable wastewater volume in 1,000 gallons.
BCR = Unit surcharge per pound of BOD5.
TCR = Unit surcharge per pound of TSS.
PCR = Unit surcharge per pound of phosphorus.
Scr = Surcharge for extra-strength waste.
(G) Determination of sewer service charges. Sewer service charges shall be computed for each user in accordance with the formula presented below.
SSC = Uc + CRc
Where:
SSC = Sewer service charge.
Uc = User charge.
CRc = Capital recovery charge.
(H) Additional charges. The sewer service charges established in this chapter shall not prevent the assessment of additional charges to users who discharge extra-strength waste or wastes of unusual character, or contractual agreements with such users, as long as the following conditions are met:
(1) The user pays OM&R costs in proportion to the user’s proportionate contribution of wastewater flows and loadings to the treatment works and no user is charged at a rate less than that of domestic-strength waste; and
(2) The measurement of such wastes are conducted according to the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater in a manner acceptable to the city, as provided for in this chapter.
(3) A study of unit costs of collection and treatment processes attributable to fixed service, flow, BOD5, TSS, and other significant loadings shall be developed for determining the proportionate allocation of costs to fixed service, flows, and loadings for users discharging extra-strength wastes or wastes of unusual character.
(Prior Code, § 3.19)
(A) The city establishes a Sewer Service Fund as an income fund to receive all revenues generated by the sewer service charge system, and all other income dedicated to the operation, maintenance, replacement, and capital recovery costs of the wastewater treatment works, including taxes, special charges, fees, and assessments. The city also establishes the following accounts as income and expenditure accounts within the Sewer Service Fund:
(1) Operation and Maintenance Account; and
(2) Capital Recovery Account.
(B) All revenue generated by the sewer service charge system and all other income pertinent to the treatment works shall be held by the Clerk-Treasurer separate and apart from all other funds of the city. Funds received by the Sewer Service Fund shall be transferred to the operation and maintenance account and the Capital Recovery Account in accordance with state and federal regulations and the provisions of this chapter.
(C) Revenue generated by the sewer service charge system sufficient for operation and maintenance shall be held separate and apart in the Operation and Maintenance Account. Interest income generated by the Operation and Maintenance Account shall remain in the Operation and Maintenance Account.
(D) Revenue generated by the sewer service charge system for capital expenditures shall be held separate and apart in the Capital Recovery Account. Interest income generated by the Capital Recovery Account shall remain in the Capital Recovery Account.
(Prior Code, § 3.20)
The sewer service charge system and Sewer Service Fund shall be administered according to the following provisions.
(A) The City Clerk-Treasurer shall maintain a proper system of accounts suitable for determining the operation and maintenance and capital-related costs of the treatment works and shall furnish the City Council with a report of such costs annually in October.
(B) (1) The City Council shall annually determine whether or not sufficient revenue is being generated for the effective operation, maintenance, and management of the treatment works, and whether sufficient revenue is being generated for capital-related purposes.
(2) The Council will also determine whether the user charges are distributed proportionately to each user in accordance herewith and in accordance with § 204(b)(2)(A) of the Clean Water Act.
(3) The city shall thereafter, but not later than the end of the year, reassess and, as necessary, revise the sewer service charge system then in use to ensure the proportionality of the user charges and to ensure the sufficiency of funds to maintain the capacity and performance to which the facilities were constructed, and to accommodate the capital needs of the system.
(C) In accordance with federal and state requirements, each user will be notified annually, in conjunction with a regular billing, of that portion of the sewer service charge attributable to operation, maintenance, and replacement.
(D) In accordance with federal and state requirements, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining all records necessary to document compliance with the sewer service charge system adopted.
(E)
Bills for sewer service charges shall be rendered on a monthly basis succeeding the period for which the service was rendered and shall be due 30 days from the date of rendering. Any payment not received by the due date shall result in a penalty of a late payment charge. The penalty shall be computed as 10% of the original bill and shall be increased the same 10% for every month the bill is outstanding.
(F) The owner of the premises shall be liable to pay for the service to such premises, and the service is furnished to the premises by the city only upon the condition that the owner of the premises is liable to the city.
(G) Any additional costs caused by discharges to the treatment works of toxics or other incompatible wastes, including the cost of restoring wastewater treatment services, cleanup and restoration of the receiving waters and environs, and sludge disposal, shall be borne by the dischargers of the wastes, at no expense to the city.
(H) Lien for nonpayment. As authorized by state law, the city may certify to the County Auditor between October 1 and 15 of each year any charges that are delinquent, which includes all such charges that are more than 30 days past due on or before September 30 of that year, which certification shall include the amount of such charges, the description of the premises serviced, and the name and address of the owner. The amount so certified shall be extended by the Auditor on the tax rolls against the premises in the same matter as other taxes, and collected by the County Treasurer and paid to the city along with other taxes. If the property is occupied by any person who is not the owner, the owner is nonetheless obligated for all service collection charges incurred.
(Prior Code, § 3.21) (Ord. 2019-06, passed 11-25-2019; Ord. 2024-05, passed 5-13-2024)
The sewer service charge system shall take precedence over any terms or conditions of agreements or contracts which are inconsistent with the requirements of § 204(b)(1)(A) of the Act and 40 C.F.R. § 35.2140 of the Environmental Protection Agency’s grant regulations.
(Prior Code, § 3.22)
STORM SEWER DRAINAGE UTILITY
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