(A) Water service charges. The water service charge for the use of and for service supplied by the water facilities of the city shall consist of a basic user charge, a debt service charge, and a capital improvement charge.
(1) Basic user charge.
(a) The basic user charge is levied on all users to recover the operation, maintenance, and replacement (O, M, & R) costs and shall be based on water use as recorded by water meters.
(b) The basic user charge shall be computed as follows:
1. Estimate the annual water volume;
2. Estimate the projected annual revenue required to operate and maintain the water facilities, including a replacement fund for the year, for all works categories; and
3. Compute costs per 1,000 gallons.
(2) Debt service charge. The debt service charge is computed by apportioning the annual debt service, as a charge per 1,000 gallons.
(3) Capital improvement charge. The capital improvement charge is levied on users to provide for capital improvements, extensions, or reconstruction of the waterworks. The capital improvement charge is computed by apportioning the annual amount to be accrued, as a charge per 1,000 gallons.
(B) Review. The adequacy of the water service charge shall be reviewed, not less often than annually, by certified public accountants for the city in their annual audit report. The water service charge shall be revised periodically to reflect a change in local capital costs or O, M, & R costs.
(C) Measurement of flow. The volume of flow used for computing basic user charges shall be the metered water consumption read to the lowest even increments of 100 gallons.
(1) If the person procures any part, or all, of his or her water from sources other than the public waterworks system, the person shall install and maintain, at his or her expense, water meters of a type approved by the City Water Department for the purpose of determining the volume of water obtained from these other sources.
(2) Devices for measuring the volume of water may be required by the City Water Department if these volumes cannot otherwise be determined from the metered water consumption records.
(3) Metering devices for determining the volume shall be installed, owned, and maintained by the person. Following approval and installation, these meters may not be removed, unless service is canceled, without the consent of the City Water Department.
(D) Schedule of charges. The automatic rate increase established in these sections shall be abated for fiscal year May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
(1) Basic user charge. There shall be and there is hereby established a basic user charge of $6.7645 per 1,000 gallons of metered water consumption to be applied to all users to recover O, M, & R costs (for flow in excess of 2,000 gallons).
(2) Debt service charge. There shall be and there is hereby established a debt service charge of $6.41 per month to each user of the water facility.
(3) Capital improvement charge. There shall be and there is hereby established a capital improvement charge of $2.14 per month to each user of the water facility.
(4) Minimum charge. A minimum charge of $21.37 per month shall be applied to all users whose water consumption does not exceed 2,000 gallons per month. This minimum charge consists of $12.82 for O, M, & R costs, $6.41 for debt service costs, and $2.14 for capital improvement costs.
(5) Usage rates in excess of 20,000 gallons in a month.
(a) Usage in excess of 20,000 gallons and not more than 100,000 gallons per month will be charged at a rate of $5.7006 per 1,000 gallons. This rate consists of $5.7006 for O, M, & R costs, $0.00 for Debt Service Costs and $0.000 for Capital Improvement Costs.
(b) Usage in excess of 100,000 and not more than 500,000 gallons per month will be charged at a rate of $3.1015 per 1,000 gallons. This rate consists of $3.1015 for O, M, & R costs, $0.00 for Debt Service Costs, and $0.00 for Capital Improvement Costs.
(c) Usage in excess of 500,000 gallons per month will be charged at a rate of $2.1266 per 1,000 gallons. This rate consists of $2.1266 for O, M, & R costs, $0.00 for Debt Service Costs, and $0.00 for Capital Improvement Costs.
(6) Flat rate metering. In the event use of the water facilities is determined by the city to be in excess of 10,000 gallons per month, the city may require the flat rate user to install metering devices on the water supply to measure the amount of service supplied.
(7) Computation of water service charge. The water service charge shall be computed by the following formula:
CW + CC + CD + CM + (Vu - X)CU
Where:
CW = Amount of water service charge ($) per billing period;
CC = Capital improvement charge (division (D)(3));
CD = Debt service charge (division (D)(2));
CM = Minimum charge for operation, maintenance, and replacement (division (D)(4));
Vu = Water volume for the billing period;
X = Allowable consumption in gallons for the minimum charge (division (D)(4)); and
CU = Basic user charge for operation, maintenance, and replacement (division (D)(1)).
(1969 Code, § 27-141) (Ord. -, passed 9-16-1998; Am. Ord. 2004-28, passed 7-12-2004; Am. Ord. 2006-25, passed 7-24-2006; Am. Ord. 2013-5, passed 4-22-2013; Am. Ord. 2014-3, passed 4-28-2014; Am. Ord. 2019-4, passed 4-22-2019; Am. Ord. 2019-16, passed 9-23-2019)
Penalty, see § 51.999