(a) Rules and regulations. The rules and regulations for the government of sewerage utilities, adopted by the Public Service Commission of the state, and now in effect, and all amendments thereto and modifications thereof hereafter made by said Commission.
(b) Sewer rates.
(1) Applicability. Applicable within the entire territory served.
(2) Availability. Available for general domestic, commercial, industrial and sale for resale sewer service.
(3) Rates.
Gallons Used Per Month | Per 1,000 Gallons |
First 5,000 | $13.43 |
Next 15,000 | $7.14 |
All over 20,000 | $4.31 |
(4) Minimum charge. No bill will be rendered for less than $26.86 per month.
(5) Sales for resale service. All sewage from the Hamrick Public Service District will be treated at the approved rate of $2.25 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed.
(6) Delayed payment penalty. The above schedule is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, 10% will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is applicable.
(7) Security deposit. An initial security deposit for new service will be required equal to one-twelfth of the annual estimated charge for residential service (based on 4,000 gallons or $53.72) or one-sixth of the annual estimated charge for all other service.
(8) Tap fee.
A. The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant.
B. A tap fee of $400 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
(9) Disconnection. If any bill is not paid within 30 days after the date of the mailing thereof, water and sewage service to the customer will be discontinued, provided, however, that at least three days before the discontinuation of sewage service, a notice of such discontinuation shall be mailed to the delinquent customer at his or her last address on record with the Billing Clerk, by regular United States mail, postage prepaid. Water and sewage service will not be restored until all past due sewage bills have been paid in full and all accrued penalties plus a reconnection charge of $25 shall be paid.
(10) Returned check charge. A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the city or a maximum of $25 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by their bank due to insufficient funds or any other reason.
(11) Adjustment for unusual consumption. When the city determines that there has been unusual consumption of sewage treatment services by any customer which can be attributed by the city to be eligible leakage of water on the customer’s side of the water meter, the city shall assess and bill, and the customer shall pay, to the Sewer Fund of the city a sewage treatment charge of $1.32 per 1,000 gallons of water (or fraction thereof) over and above the customer’s two-year historical average usage of water.
(12) Surface or groundwater surcharge.
(a) An additional amount shall be charged where surface or groundwater is introduced into the sanitary system where evidence of a violation exists.
(b) Surcharge formula to be applied in case where surface drainage is connected to the utility’s sewerage system.
(13) Applicability.
A. Whenever the utility has discovered that a customer’s roof drain, downspout, storm sewer or similar facilities conducting surface water have been connected to the utility’s sewerage system, and such customer has failed to take appropriate action within 60 days of receipt of a demand by the utility, in accordance with the Rules of the Public Service Commission, to eliminate such connection, a surcharge will be imposed upon the customer calculated on the basis of the following formula:
S = A x R x 0.0006233 x C
S = The surcharge in dollars
A = The area under roof and/or the area of any other water collection surface connected to the sanitary sewer, in square feet
R = The measured monthly rainfall, in inches
.0006233 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain X square feet of surface water to thousands of gallons of water
.0008333 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain X square feet of surface water to $ per 100 cubic feet
C = The utility’s approved rate per thousand gallons of metered water usage
B. The utility shall not impose the surcharge unless and until the customer has been notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by hand delivery, that it has been established by smoke testing, dye testing, or on-site inspection that rain or surface water is being introduced into the sanitary sewer system at the customer’s location, and that the customer has not acted within 60 days from receipt of such notice to divert the water from the sanitary sewerage system.
C. Said surcharge shall be calculated and imposed for each month that said condition continues to exist. Failure to pay the surcharge and/or correct the situation shall give rise to the possible termination of water service in accordance with the Rules of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
(Ord. 21A, passed 3-16-2021)