§ 59.144 DETERMINATION OF WATER USAGE, STRENGTH AND CHARACTER OF WASTES FOR BILLING PURPOSES.
   (A)   Determination of water usage for billing purposes. The quantity of water discharged into the sanitary sewage system and obtained from sources other than the utility that serves the city shall be determined by the Sanitary District in the manner the District may reasonably elect, and the sewage service shall be billed at the above appropriate rates; except, as is provided in this section, the District may make proper allowances in determining the sewage bill for quantities of water shown on the records to be consumed, but which are also shown to the satisfaction of the District that the quantities do not enter the sanitary sewage system.
      (1)   In the event the owner of a lot, parcel of real estate, or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids into the District’s sewer system, either directly or indirectly, is not a user of water supplied by the waterworks company and the water used thereon or therein is not measured by a meter, or is measured by a meter not acceptable to the District, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the District, in order to ascertain the rates and charges, the owner or other interested party, at his or her expense, may install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate an approved method of measurement acceptable to the District for the determination of the sewage discharge.
      (2)   In the event the owner of a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial waste, water or other liquids into the District’s sewer system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of water supplied by the waterworks company, and in addition uses water from another source which is not measured by a water meter, or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the District, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the District in order to ascertain the rates of charge, or the owner or other interested party, at his or her expense, may install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices, or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the District for the determination of sewage discharge.
      (3)   In the event the owners of two or more residential lots, parcels of real estate, or buildings discharging sanitary sewage, water or other liquids into the District’s sewer system, either directly or indirectly, are users of water and the quantity of water is measured by a single water meter, then in that case, for billing purposes, the quantity of water used shall be averaged for each user and the sewage rates and charges shall apply to each of the number of residential lots, parcels of real estate or buildings served through the single water meter.
      (4)   In the event two or more dwelling units such as mobile homes, apartments or housekeeping rooms discharging sanitary sewage, water or other liquids into the District’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, are users of water and the quantity of water is measured by a single water meter, then in that case, billing shall be for a single service in the manner set out elsewhere herein, except that the minimum bill shall not be less than the number of dwelling units times the minimum base rate. In the case of mobile home courts, the numbers of dwelling units shall be computed and interpreted as the total number of mobile home spaces available for rent plus any other dwelling units served through the meter. A dwelling unit shall be interpreted as defined in § 59.139.
      (5)   In order that the single-family domestic and residential users of sewage service shall not be penalized for sprinkling lawns during the summer months of July, August and September, the billing for sewage service for residences or domestic users for those months shall be based on the water usage for the previous months of April, May and June, or one month determined by the Board. In the event the water usage for said previous months is greater than the water usage for the summer months, then the billing for sewage services shall be computed on the actual water used in the month for which the sewage service bill is being rendered. Domestic or residential sewage service as applicable to the sprinkling rate shall apply to each lot, parcel of real estate or building which is occupied and used as a single-family residence. The sprinkling rates shall not apply to any premises which are partially or wholly used for commercial or industrial purposes. In the event a portion of the premises shall be used for commercial or industrial purposes, the owner shall have the privilege of separating the water service so that the residential portion of the premises is served through a separate meter and in that case the water usage as registered by the water meter serving that portion of the premises used for residential purposes would qualify under the sprinkling rate. This credit will be given to qualified users only on request.
      (6)   In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharges sanitary sewage, industrial waste, water or other liquids into the District’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, and uses water in excess of 25,000 gallons per month, and it can be shown to the satisfaction of the District that a portion of water as measured by the water meter or meter does not and cannot enter the sanitary sewage system, then the owner or other interested party shall, at his or her expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the District for the determination of sewage discharge.
      (7)   Where a metered water supply is used for fire protection as well as for other uses, the District may, in its discretion, make adjustments in the user charge as may be equitable.
(Prior Code, § 53.15)
   (B)   Determination of strength, character of wastes for billing purposes. In order that the rates and charges may be justly and equitably adjusted to the service rendered to users, the Sanitary District shall base its charges not only on the volume, but also on the strength and character of the stronger than normal domestic sewage and wastes which it is required to treat and dispose of. The District shall require the user to determine the strength and content of all sewage and wastes discharged, either directly or indirectly into the sanitary sewage system, in the manner and by the method the District may deem practicable in the light of the conditions and attending circumstances of the case, in order to determine the proper charge. The user shall furnish a representative sampling point available to the District at all times.
      (1)   Normal sewage domestic waste strength should not exceed a biochemical oxygen demand of 200 milligrams per liter of fluid or suspended solids in excess of 225 milligrams per liter of fluid. Additional charges for treating stronger than normal domestic waste shall be made on the following basis.
         (a)   Rate surcharge based upon suspended solids. There shall be an additional charge per pound of suspended solids for suspended solids received in excess of 225 milligrams per liter of fluid to be determined by Common Council.
         (b)   Rate surcharge based on BOD There shall be an additional charge per pound of biochemical oxygen demand for BOD received in excess of 200 milligrams per liter of fluid to be determined by Common Council.
      (2)   The determination of suspended solids and five-day BOD contained in the waste shall be in accordance with standard laboratory procedures.
(Prior Code, § 53.16) (Res. 2-1984, passed - -; Res. 1-1989, passed - -; Ord. 8-1989, passed - -)