§ 51.172 WASTEWATER SERVICE CHARGES.
   (A)   Basis for wastewater service charges. The wastewater service charge for the use of and for service supplied by the wastewater facilities of the city shall consist of a basic user charge and applicable surcharges.
   (B)   (1)   The basic user charge is levied on all users to recover the operation, maintenance plus replacement (O, M & R) costs and shall be based on water usage as recorded by water meters or sewage meters for wastes having the following normal domestic concentrations:
         (a)   A five day, 20 degree centigrade biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 200 mg/l.
         (b)   A suspended solids content of 250 mg/l.
      (2)   The basic user charge shall be computed as follows:
         (a)   Estimate the annual wastewater volume, pounds of BOD and pounds of SS to be treated.
         (b)   Estimate the projected annual revenue required to operate and maintain the wastewater facilities, including a replacement fund for the year, for all works categories.
         (c)   Proportion the estimated O, M & R costs to each user class by volume, BOD and 55.
         (d)   Proportion the estimated O, M & R costs to wastewater facility categories by volume, BOD and SS.
         (e)   Compute costs per 100 Cu. Ft. for normal domestic strength sewage.
         (f)   Compute surcharge costs per pound for BOD and SS concentrations in excess of normal domestic strengths.
   (C)   (1)   A surcharge will be levied to all users whose waters exceed the normal domestic concentrations of BOD (200 mg/l) and 55 (250 mg/l). The surcharge will be based on water usage as recorded by water meters, or sewage meters for all wastes which exceed the 200 mg/l and 250 mg/l concentrations for BOD and 55 respectively.
      (2)   The concentration of wastes used for computing surcharges shall be established by waste sampling. Waste sampling shall be performed as often as may be deemed necessary by the Superintendent and shall be binding as a basis for surcharges.
   (D)   The adequacy of the wastewater service charge shall be reviewed, not less often than annually, by Certified Public Accountants for the city in their annual audit report. The wastewater service charge shall be revised periodically to reflect a change in local capital costs or O, M & R costs.
   (E)   The users of the wastewater treatment services will be notified annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and that portion of the user charges which are attributable to the wastewater operation, maintenance and replacement.
   (F)   Measurement of flow: The volume of flow used for computing basic user charges and surcharges shall be the metered water consumption read to the lowest even increments of Cu. Ft.
      (1)   If the person discharging wastes into the public sewers procures any part, or all, of his water from sources other than the Public Waterworks System, all or part of which is discharged into the public sewers, the person shall install and maintain, at his expense, water meters of a type approved by the Superintendent for the purpose of determining the volume of water obtained from these other sources.
      (2)   Devices for measuring the volume of waste discharged may be required by the city if these volumes cannot otherwise be determined from the metered water consumption records.
      (3)   Metering devices for determining the volume of waste shall be installed, owned, and maintained by the person. Following approval and
installation, such meters may not be removed, unless service is canceled, without the consent of the city.
   (G)   Basic user charge: There shall be and there is hereby established a basic user charge. Usage in excess of 200 cu. ft. per month, based on water usage, will be charged at a rate of $2.87 per 100 cu. ft. This may be adjusted annually for the COLA.
   (H)   Customer service charge: A customer service charge of $7.95 per month shall be applied to all bills in addition to the basic user charge. This may be adjusted annually for the COLA.
   (I)   Surcharge rates: The rates of surcharges for BOD and SS shall be as follows:
         per lb. of BOD:       $.14
         per lb. of SS:          $.05
(Ord. 651, passed 8-21-95; Am. Ord. 780, passed 7-21-03; Am. Ord. 846, passed 3-10-08)