The following words shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD): The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter in five (5) days at a temperature of twenty degrees centigrade (21°C).
BOARD: The town governing board of the town of Hawthorne, Nevada.
CAPITAL COSTS: Costs of major rehabilitation, expansion or upgrading required as facilities reach the end of their useful life.
CAPITAL OUTLAYS: Expenditures which result in the acquisition of, or addition to, fixed or capital assets.
CAPITALIZATION CHARGE: The charge to sewer system customers to produce revenues to retire outstanding indebtedness and maintain reserve accounts for capital improvements to the sewer system, and other such nonoperating, maintenance and replacement items as the board may specify.
CAPITALIZATION FUND: The reserve account to which capitalization charges accrue; and from which capital costs are met. The fund may be used to meet debt service, depreciation and such other expenses as the board determines (except OM&R).
CONNECTION CHARGE: A fee charged in order to equalize the investment in sewer plant equipment and related facilities levied by the Hawthorne utilities department. The charge is applied to all new users of sewer facilities in approximate proportion to their anticipated usage and is for the right of service in the system. All connection charges and fees collected are deposited in the capitalization fund.
DIRECTOR: The individual empowered by the board to oversee utilities operations who works under the direction of the board.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: The accounting and budgetary procedures utilized for the sewer revenue system, audited annually, which maintains two (2) discrete and separate accounting programs for the capitalization system and user charge system, consisting of a double entry bookkeeping system in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and the governmental accounting standard board (GASB).
INFILTRATION: The means by which water enters a sewerage system through defective components in the system.
INFLOW: Water from surface runoff and drainage, other than wastewater, which enters a sewerage system through such sources as roof, yard and cellar drains, catch basins and street drains.
OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPLACEMENT EXPENDITURES (OM&R): Expenditures necessary for managing and maintaining the sewage works to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed, excluding expenditures for capital improvements, debt service or depreciation.
PREMISES: For the purpose of determining the proper number of sewage connections and identifying the party liable for fees, the term "premises" as used herein is defined as every dwelling, building or point of collection which necessitates connection into the sewage system regardless of common ownership.
SANITARY SEWER: A sewer intended to carry only sanitary or sanitary and industrial wastewaters from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions.
SEASONAL ALLOWANCE: An allowance based on metered water consumptions. The average increase in summer consumption over winter consumption. Charges shall be established per one thousand (1,000) gallons up to a maximum (not to exceed) volume allocation for the summer months. The maximum volume guideline shall equal the average maximum winter consumption figure.
SEWER SYSTEM: That system designed and used for the purpose of conveying, transporting and treating all permitted waste, including, but not limited to, all conduits, pumps, plants structure, and sanitary sewers of any kind used directly or indirectly for the collection, treatment and disposal of permitted wastes in Hawthorne, Nevada, and all appurtenances thereto, as created by 1941 Nevada statutes, chapter 62, page 83, and thereafter as enlarged by the utilities department.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SS): Solids that float on the surface of, or are suspended in water, sewage, or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
TAP FEE: The charge assessed by the Hawthorne utilities department for tapping into an existing sewer main. The fee is charged to recoup incurred expenses (labor, material and equipment) when Hawthorne Utilities performs the work.
TREATMENT WORKS: All facilities, plants and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage or liquid industrial wastes including intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, pumping, power and other equipment and appurtenances, extensions, improvements, additions and alterations thereof and those items essential to providing a reliable recycled supply of water and any works being an integral part of the treatment process or used for the ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment.
USAGE: Treatment facility usage is based upon volume and loadings.
USER: A recipient of wastewater treatment service more particularly defined as follows:
Enterprise User: Any source of sewage whose contribution to the sewage system results exclusively from one commercial or governmental building. An exempt enterprise user is one which makes use of water outdoors for horticulture or landscaping purposes. A nonexempt enterprise user is one which does not make use of water outdoors for horticulture or landscaping purposes.
Residential User: Any source of sewage whose contribution to the sewage system results exclusively from one domestic dwelling.
USER CHARGE FUND: The distinct account to which user charge revenue shall accrue and through which OM&R expenses are met, also known as the OM&R fund.
USER CHARGE RATE (UCR): The charge assessed users of a wastewater treatment facility to obtain revenue to fund the users' proportionate share of OM&R expenses. The rate shall be proportionate to their usage (volume and loading) of the facility. The rate is determined through the application of the user charge system. The user charge rate is a distinct portion of the annual/monthly sewer fees, reflecting only OM&R expenses.
USER CHARGE SYSTEM: The process through which OM&R expenses are determined and the correlating user charge rate derived and assessed to users of the treatment facility (proportionate to usage), to generate revenue to meet those OM&R expenses, thereby assuring fiscal self-sufficiency of the plant over its useful life. Inclusive of:
A. Rates proportionate to usage.
B. Annual notification to each user of the UCR and OM&R costs.
C. A financial management system which accounts for OM&R expenses and establishes the user charge rates.
D. Disposition of infiltration/inflow expense.
E. Precedence over conflicting legal enactments.
F. Disposition of earned (or capital income).
UTILITIES DEPARTMENT: Agency empowered by the board with responsibility to oversee the operation and administration of sewer services and wastewater treatment facilities for Hawthorne, Nevada. (TH Ord. 132A § 1, 1991)