(A) Excessive water usage/leak adjustment criteria. Adjustments to sewer/wastewater bills, for excessive water usage, will be granted when all of the following conditions have been met:
(1) Timeliness of request. The customer submits a written request for a sewer bill adjustment, no later than 30 days after the date of the bill for which the adjustment is requested.
(2) Excessive volume. Water use volume, for the period for which an adjustment is requested, is 150% or more of the previous 12 months' average usage or the total number of months since service was established, if less than 12 months.
(3) Causes. The Superintendent verifies that the excessive volume results from a leak or malfunctioning appliance, fixture, or device, which has been fixed. The customer requesting the adjustment must submit proof of repair in a form satisfactory to the Superintendent.
(4) Non-delinquency. The account in question is not past due.
(5) Prior adjustments. The customer requesting the adjustment has not received an adjustment within the last 12 months.
(B) Amount of adjustment.
(1) If the Town Utility Superintendent, or his or her designee, determines that all of the adjustment criteria are satisfied, and that the excessive volume was not discharged into the town's sewage works, the water usage will be reduced down to the average usage for the prior 12 billing cycles (or all prior billing cycles, whichever is less) and the bill adjusted accordingly.
(2) If the Superintendent, or his or her designee, determines that all of the adjustment criteria are satisfied, and that the excessive volume was discharged into the town's sewage works, the water usage will be reduced by one half of the difference between the usage reported on the current bill and the average usage for the prior 12 billing cycles (or all prior billing cycles, whichever is less) and the bill adjusted accordingly.
(3) Any customer who disagrees with the Superintendent's determination related to a sewer bill adjustment may, within ten days, file with the Town Utility Superintendent, 540 Tracy Road Suite A, New Whiteland, IN 46184, a request for a review and determination by the Town Council. The Town Council, then at regular meeting, will consider that customer's request for adjustment applying the same adjustment criteria as set forth above.
(C) One time annual hardship extension. Each customer of the town's sewage works may, one time each year, request an extension of up to 30 days to pay their most current sewer bill because of an inability to pay. The extension must be requested, in writing, before the bill for which it is requested becomes past due. The Superintendent or his or her designee may, but shall not be required to, grant the extension. Sewer bills which are delinquent are subject to a 10% penalty. (I.C. 36-9-23-32.) The granting of an extension to pay a sewer bill will not relieve the customer of those penalties which are imposed, by law, on delinquent bills.
(D) Other remedies. The sewer bill adjustment policies and procedures as set forth above are in addition to and in no way limit any customer's right to request that the Town Council adjust their sewer bill as permitted and pursuant to other adopted town policies.
(Res. 2021-05, passed 9-1-2021)