(a) Generally. Sewer user charges are based upon the proposition that costs of service be distributed equitably among users of the services. There will be two rates for payment for services by users:
(1) Basic users rate, generally for all residential and commercial users.
(2) High strength waste surcharges, usually for industrial and specialty users.
(b) Residential sewer customers. Persons discharging only domestic sanitary wastewater into the town's sewer system will be charged a flat fee per dwelling unit. Such flat fee rates shall be set forth in the schedule of fees and charges of the annually adopted budget ordinance for the town.
(c) Commercial sewer customers. Commercial customers discharging only domestic sanitary wastewater into the town's sewer system will be charged a flat fee per commercial user size. Such user size is based upon the annual projected flow discharged into the town's sewer system and is determined by the town based upon the type and size of the commercial customer. flat rate fees for each user size shall be set forth in the schedule of fees and charges of the annually adopted budget ordinance for the town.
(d) Adjustments. Normally all requests for sewer flat fee rate adjustment will not be considered. An appeal may be considered if it can be demonstrated that the flat fee is substantially different from the proposition that costs of service be distributed equitably among users of the services. The town manager is authorized to make an adjustment in the flat fee rate.
(e) High strength waste surcharge. Persons discharging high strength wastes, normally industrial, will be charged for loads of BOD and suspended solids in the wastewater in concentrations in excess of those normal for domestic sanitary sewage and allowed for in the basic users rate. For purposes of establishing the lower limits of the user charge surcharges, normal domestic wastewater shall be characterized according to the following concentrations for domestic waste parameters:
(1) BOD5: 220 mg/L.
(2) Suspended solids: 220 mg/L.
(f) Surcharge rates. Surcharge rates will be stated in terms of dollars per pound for each parameter. Quantities of surchargeable materials will be determined by flow measurements (or estimates), sampling, analyses and calculations. Sampling and analyses will be done by the town using 24-hour composite samples, taken during a representative operating day of the user. The minimum sampling frequency will be one day for each four-month billing period. Wastewater analyses will be performed according to procedures of the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, APHA, AWWA, WPCF. Average results of sample analyses will be used for calculating surcharges for each parameter over the billing period according to the following example calculation:
(1) Assume Average Measured BOD = 600 mg/L = (600 lb./106 lb. WW).
(2) Assumed measured Volume = 900,000 gal./quarter.
(3) Limit of Base Rate BOD 220 mg/L = (220 lb./106 lb. WW).
(4) Assume BOD Surcharge = ¢/lb.
(5) BOD Surcharge = 600-200 × 0.9 × 8.34 × ¢/lb.
(6) 106 × 100 = $/quarter.
(g) Administration billing. Administration for the high strength waste monitoring program and billings to such accounts will be made by the town and will include statements of base rate billings, surcharge billings and the basis of billings.
(h) Alternate method sampling. The town will enter into agreement with high strength users specifying alternate methods of sewage flow determination and sampling as conditions of a service permit.
(i) Rate schedules. If required, a schedule of surcharge rates to be charged for the collection and treatment of high strength wastewater shall be set forth in the schedule of fees and charges. Rate schedules will be revised from time to time to reflect the changing number of users and the varying operation costs.
(j) Separate rate agreement. The town may negotiate a separate rate agreement for high volume and/or high strength users.
(Code 1989, § 51.09; Ord. of 11-13-2018)