A. User Charges:
1. Basis: All users of the wastewater collection and treatment system shall be charged per metered unit of water consumption (approximately 750 gallons), billed monthly, based on average monthly water usage during December, January, and February. Said average water usage shall be calculated each March and used to determine the sewer charge for each customer for the next twelve (12) months beginning with the March billing. In the case of users not on a metered basis and new customers for which no previous usage history is available, the city shall establish an estimated water consumption based on a comparison of the nonmetered or new customer with a metered customer of similar class. As an example, a new customer comprising a family of four (4) would be compared with a typical family of four (4) to establish a basis for estimating water consumption. (Ord. 834, 3-2-1999; amd. 2013 Code)
2. Rates Established: Sewer rates (based on units of water usage) shall be in such amounts as set by the board of commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division IV of this code.
B. User Charge Schedule: As the BOD, suspended solids, and other pollutant concentrations discharged shall be approximately equal for all domestic users, such users shall be charged on a volume basis in accordance with the following formula:
Cu = Cb + Ct/Vt (Vu)
Symbols and definitions:
Cu = A user's charge per month for sewer service.
Cb = The user's share of the monthly costs not related to operation, maintenance and replacement, i.e., capital expenditure, debt service costs, fixed overhead, etc.
Ct = Total annual operation, maintenance and replacement (OM&R) costs for the wastewater collection and treatment system.
Vt = Total volume contribution from all users per year.
Vu = Volume contribution from a user per month.
C. Excessive Strength Charges: For any user, when the measured BOD exceeds two hundred fifty milligrams per liter (250 mg/l), the measured suspended solids exceed two hundred fifty milligrams per liter (250 mg/l), or when other pollutant concentrations exceed the range of concentrations of these pollutants in normal domestic sewage, a surcharge shall be added to the basic charge. This surcharge shall be calculated by the following formula:
Cs = A surcharge for wastewaters of excessive strength.
Bc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
B = Concentration of BOD from a user which exceeds 250 mg/l.
Sc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of suspended solids (SS).
S = Concentration of SS from a user which exceeds 250 mg/l.
Pc = O&M cost for treatment of a unit of any pollutant.
P = Concentration of any pollutant from a user which exceeds the range of concentrations found in normal domestic sewage.
Vu = Volume contribution from a user per unit of time, i.e., monthly.
D. Review And Revision: The user charge ordinance shall be reviewed every year with respect to the wastewater contribution of users and user classes, the total costs of the operation, maintenance and replacement of the sewer system, and its approved user charge schedule. The charges for users or user classes shall be revised to accomplish the following:
1. Maintain the proportionate distribution of operation, maintenance and replacement costs among users and user classes.
2. Generate sufficient revenue to pay the total operation, maintenance and replacement costs necessary to the proper continued operation of the wastewater collection and treatment system.
3. Apply excess revenues collected from a class of users to the costs of operation and maintenance attributable to that class for the next year, and adjust rates accordingly.
4. Revenues generated by the wastewater collection and treatment system from the sale of sludges, salvaged materials, crops harvested or lands leased shall be used to offset the costs for OM&R. Rates for all users shall be reduced proportional to usage.
E. Toxic Pollutants Charges: Each user that discharges any toxic pollutants which cause an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or the sludge of the treatment works shall pay for such increased costs.
F. Notification: Each user shall be notified at least annually, in conjunction with the regular bill, of the sewer use rate and the portion of the user charges which are attributable to wastewater collection and treatment services. Costs shall be broken down to show the operation, maintenance and replacement costs attributable to that user.
G. Charges For Extraneous Flows: The costs of operation and maintenance for all flows not directly attributable to users (such as infiltration/inflow) shall be distributed among users on the same basis as operation and maintenance charges.
H. Records: A recordkeeping system shall be established and maintained by the city clerk to document compliance with federal regulations pertaining to the user charge in subsection 9-3-6B of this chapter, as may be amended from time to time.
I. Precedence Of User Charge System: The user charge system shall take precedence over any terms or conditions of agreements or contracts between the city/Kingfisher public works authority and any of the users which are inconsistent with applicable federal regulations regarding user charge systems. (2013 Code)