(A) Basis of tariff. The costs of providing wastewater and related services will be recovered by the city through a system of rates and charges which shall include any and all applicable taxes. The revenue requirements to be recovered through wastewater rates shall be equal to the budgeted annual operating and maintenance expenses, debt interest, depreciation, and debt service coverage necessary to provide said wastewater services.
(B) Annual review. An independent qualified consultant shall, each year, review the adequacy of rates and services to comply with all water and wastewater bond covenants and required payments. In the event that such rates and charges as are specified below are reviewed and determined insufficient for the purpose of meeting the covenants of the bonds and recovering all costs of water service during the subsequent fiscal period, the consultant shall recommend adjustments to the wastewater tariff in accordance with the recognized industry rate-making practice.
(C) For the purpose of this chapter, the provisions set forth in § 50.03(C) shall apply.
(D) There is hereby levied and established a system of rates and charges against each and every person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity requiring sewer service in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) Single-family residential classification.
Territory: Applicable within the incorporated limits of the city.
(a) Monthly service charge:
Effective 10/1/2023 $16.82
Effective 10/1/2024 $17.49
Effective 10/1/2025 $18.19
Effective 10/1/2026 $18.92
Effective 10/1/2027 $19.68
Effective 10/1/2028 $20.47
(b) Flow charge per 1,000 gallons:
Charge Effective 10/1/23 | Charge Effective 10/1/24 | Charge Effective 10/1/25 | Charge Effective 10/1/26 | Charge Effective 10/1/27 | Charge Effective 10/1/28 |
$3.92 | $4.08 | $4.24 | $4.41 | $4.59 | $4.77 |
(c) Maximum monthly billable flow: 10,000 gallons.
(2) Multiple-family residential classification.
Territory: Applicable within the incorporated limits of the city.
(a) Monthly service charge per unit:
Effective 10/1/2023 $16.10
Effective 10/1/2024 $16.10
Effective 10/1/2025 $16.10
Effective 10/1/2026 $16.10
Effective 10/1/2027 $16.10
Effective 10/1/2028 $16.10
(b) Flow charge per 1,000 gallons:
Charge Effective 10/1/23 | Charge Effective 10/1/24 | Charge Effective 10/1/25 | Charge Effective 10/1/26 | Charge Effective 10/1/27 | Charge Effective 10/1/28 |
$3.92 | $4.08 | $4.24 | $4.41 | $4.59 | $4.77 |
(c) Maximum monthly billable flow per unit: 10,000 gallons.
(3) Commercial classification.
Territory: Applicable within the incorporated limits of the city.
(a) Monthly service charge per unit:
Effective 10/1/2023 $18.43
Effective 10/1/2024 $19.17
Effective 10/1/2025 $19.94
Effective 10/1/2026 $20.74
Effective 10/1/2027 $21.57
Effective 10/1/2028 $22.43
(b) Flow charge per 1,000 gallons - all usage:
Charge Effective 10/1/23 | Charge Effective 10/1/24 | Charge Effective 10/1/25 | Charge Effective 10/1/26 | Charge Effective 10/1/27 | Charge Effective 10/1/28 |
$3.92 | $4.08 | $4.24 | $4.41 | $4.59 | $4.77 |
(4) Service outside city limits. All rates, charges, and deposits specified in this chapter will be increased by 25% for wastewater service outside of the incorporated limits of the city. Specific agreements with other governmental entities may govern the date and charges to be applied pursuant to such agreements.
(5) Service to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Services to the Town of Lauderdale-By-the-Sea, through their bulk lift station located at Sea Grape Drive and Commercial Boulevard, shall be governed by the wastewater service agreement between the city and the Town of Lauderdale-By-the-Sea.
(6) Service to the State of Florida Department of Transportation. For the wastewater transmission and disposal services provided by the city to the State of Florida Department of Transportation, an availability charge of $0.078 per 1,000 gallons plus a transmission and treatment charge of $1.97 per 1,000 gallons will be in effect for all flow trunked by the city.
(7) Customer deposits. The city hereby institutes a customer deposit schedule for the purpose of guaranteeing payment from all new customers equal to three times the average monthly wastewater bill for each class of service, as follows:
(a) Single-family residential classification.
Meter
Size (Inches)*
| Effective 1/1/24 Deposit Amount |
3/4 | $145 |
1 | 170 |
1½ | 170 |
2 | 170 |
*(Note: Wastewater service size determined by size of water meter)
(b) Multiple-family residential classification: $80 per unit.
(c) Commercial classification.
1. Commercial business deposit per meter size:
Meter Size (Inches) | Effective 1/1/24 Deposit Amount |
3/4 | $172.50 |
1 | 350 |
1½ | 542.50 |
2 | 915 |
3 | 2,095 |
4 or greater | Based on estimate of average usage |
*(Note: Wastewater service size determined by size of water meter)
2. Hotel, apartment hotel, and motel deposit per unit: $80.
(d) Deposit monies shall earn simple interest at an average annual rate earned by the city on its pooled investments held in money market funds while held by the city. The city shall, pursuant to its policies, pay or credit to the account the original deposit with earned interest.
(e) Refunds of wastewater deposits will be made to credit-worthy customers who have had a wastewater account with the city for a minimum of four years as of the customer's four year service anniversary date, provided the customer has not met any of the criteria outlined in subsection (7)(f) below.
A review of all wastewater accounts with deposits will be made on a continual basis to determine those customers eligible for refunds.
1. Refunds will be made in the form of credits against future charges.
(f) The city will require an additional deposit of customers who have been refunded or credited for a previous deposit amount (amount to be based on criteria outlined above), if any of the following apply:
1. Customer has had service disconnected for nonpayment within the past 12 months.
2. Customer paid with a check that is refused by a bank twice within the past 12 months.
3. Customer is in arrears 30 days or more twice within the past 12 months.
4. Customer has not fulfilled payment agreement obligations.
5. Customer has filed for bankruptcy.
6. Customer tampered with the meter or used service in a fraudulent or unauthorized manner within the past 12 months.
(g) For meters four inches in size and greater, if at anytime the monthly charges exceed 50% of the amount of the deposit for at least three consecutive months, the city will require an additional deposit amount. Calculation of additional deposit will be based on three highest consecutive billing months, less initial deposit.
(h) Deposits that are reestablished or increased in accordance with this chapter shall be billed to the customer's account.
(i) The city will withdraw and expend any customer deposit collected from any occupant or tenant for the provision of water, wastewater, or refuse collection services due to nonpayment of service charges by the occupant or tenant.
(j) The city will waive a new deposit required due to a change of address within the city service area, provided the customer has not met any of the criteria outlined in subsection (f) above and the new meter is the same size as the old or the new deposit that would be required for a larger meter at the new address does not exceed the previous meter deposit requirement by $50 or more.
(k) Amendments to the Customer Deposit Schedule established herein shall not reduce nor increase the deposit requirements for existing customers.
(l) Failure to comply with the city's deposit policy will result in refusal of utility services or disconnection of utility services.
(8) The volume of wastewater flow shall be determined by the volume of consumption of water provided to a customer by the city as provided in Chapter 50 of the code of ordinances. However, users whose wastewater volume is significantly less than the volume of water consumption as a result of providing goods and services may enter into a utility agreement with the city which provides for the sewer flow charges to be based upon the metering of the volume of the customer’s wastewater. Such a utility agreement shall also require wastewater meters to be purchased and owned by the customer, periodic testing of such meters at the customer’s expense and any and all additional costs incurred by the city arising from the utility agreement shall be the responsibility of the customer.
(Ord. 88-21, passed 12-29-87; Am. Ord. 89-03, passed 10-4-88; Am. Ord. 89-47, passed 3-7-89; Am. Ord. 90-13, passed 11-21-89; Am. Ord. 91-24, passed 12-18-90; Am. Ord. 92-15, passed 12-17-91; Am. Ord. 93-11, passed 11-24-92; Am. Ord. 93-78, passed 9-28-93; Am. Ord. 94-68, passed 9-27-94; Am. Ord. 95-37, passed 2-7-95; Am. Ord. 95-98, passed 9-26-95; Am. Ord. 99-49, passed 5-25-99; Am. Ord. 99-66, passed 9-28-99; Am. Ord. 2001-22, passed 12-12-00; Am. Ord. 2001-81, passed 9-25-01; Am. Ord. 2003-7, passed 10-22-02; Am. Ord. 2003-69, passed 9-23-03; Am. Ord. 2004-06, passed 10-28-03; Am. Ord. 2004-70, passed 9-28- 04; Am. Ord. 2005-80, passed 9-27-05; Am. Ord. 2006-66, passed 9-26-06; Am. Ord. 2006-68, passed 9-26-06; Am. Ord. 2009-12, passed 11-25-08; Am. Ord. 2010-41, passed 7-27-10; Am. Ord. 2010-45, passed 9-2-10; Am. Ord. 2013-19, passed 11-27-12; Am. Ord. 2017-66, passed 7-25-17; Am. Ord. 2020-10, passed 12-10-19; Am. Ord. 2024-11, passed 11-14-23)