A. General requirements.
1. Persons making new connections to the PSCS or increasing their potential to discharge to the PSCS through an increase in water meter size must pay a wastewater utility fee to the County. The wastewater utility fee represents the County's allocation to owners of the capital cost to provide wastewater conveyance and treatment capacity and is based on the potential volume of discharge created by water service to a property. It is not a permitting fee.
2. For an existing connection to the PSCS, an additional wastewater utility fee must be paid prior to installation of a larger water meter size or, for users receiving water from private wells, an increase in well-supplied water capacity.
B. Determining the wastewater utility fee for new private connections to the PSCS.
1. The wastewater utility fee for applicants requesting service for new connections are based on water meter size(s). Sufficient documentation is required to allow the County to determine the appropriate wastewater utility fee.
2. For property served by a well, applicant-provided documentation will be used to determine equivalent water meter size.
3. Wastewater utility fees are shown in § 13.20.600.
C. Determining the wastewater utility fee for existing private connections to the PSCS. Applicants must submit sufficient documentation to allow the County to determine the appropriate wastewater utility fee when a proposed change in water service may result in an increase in the existing water meter size(s), an increase in well-supplied water capacity, or a change in the structure's use from residential to commercial/industrial/multi-family.
D. For unique situations not addressed above, the Director will have the discretion to calculate the wastewater utility fee.
E. Wastewater utility fee refund.
1. Upon request, the County will refund the wastewater utility fee paid for a proposed new connection of a property if no physical connection to the PSCS is ultimately made; or if the physical changes in a private water supply system necessary to increase flow are not installed.
2. Refund of the wastewater utility fee payment negates the applicant's permission to connect to the PSCS, applicant's permission to increase discharges to the PSCS, and all capacity allocations issued for the property.
F. Actions to collect an outstanding wastewater utility fee.
1. In the following circumstances, the wastewater utility fee will be considered outstanding when a wastewater utility fee has not been paid at the time of building permit issuance or if there is an increase in the potential to discharge resulting from: an increase in the number of water meters serving a property; an increase in water meter size(s); or an increase in the delivery capacity of a private water supply system.
2. The responsible party at the time the outstanding wastewater utility fee was due is responsible for payment of the outstanding wastewater utility fee, regardless of subsequent changes in property ownership.
3. The amount due includes the outstanding wastewater utility fee plus interest on that amount calculated from the date the wastewater utility fee should have been paid.
4. Interest is assessed at the current prime rate plus one (1) percent.
5. Errors or omissions in reporting a wastewater utility fee to the Department by the responsible party within sixty (60) calendar days of the finalized building permit will not be charged interest or other expenses.
6. The Department will provide written notification to the responsible party that required fees and interest are outstanding. The required notice is deemed to have been given when the written notification, addressed to the responsible party, has been deposited in the U.S. mail, postpaid.
7. Payment in full or arrangements for a payment plan must be made within sixty (60) calendar days of the notice date.
8. Should payment in full or arrangements for a payment plan not be made within sixty (60) days, the Director is authorized to take all appropriate actions deemed necessary to collect the unpaid amount plus costs of recovery including, but not limited to:
a. Attorney fees and costs and staff administrative efforts; and
b. Recording of a lien on the subject property or filing suit in the appropriate state court in Pima County.
(Ord. 2019-20 § 1 (part), 2019)