A. General: This is a user charge system for a small community which follows model number one in appendix B of the "Federal Register" dated September 27, 1978. This treatment works is primarily dependent and will utilize the Equivalent User concept. The Equivalent User system has been set up based on flow.
A sewer user charge shall be levied on all users of the sewage collection and treatment facilities, to cover the actual or estimated cost of operation, maintenance, replacement, and financing of this facility. The user charge system distributes these costs to each user or user class in approximate proportion to such user's contribution to the total wastewater load of such facilities.
B. Basis For Rates: The sewer user rates for each user (or user class) shall be based on the user's contribution to the total wastewater loading of the treatment facilities in comparison to a standard equivalent user as defined below. Each user (or user class) shall be assigned a number of equivalent users to be multiplied by a constant monthly cost factor to determine the basic user rate. Special users contributing sewage of excessive flow and/or strength, for which the tabulated equivalent users below do not apply, shall be individually calculated as provided below. The constant monthly cost factor shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
C. Equivalent User Schedule: The number of equivalent users to be assigned to each user and/or user class, shall be in accordance with the following equivalent user schedule. Assignment of equivalent users shall apply for one year until the next annual user charge review. Users so indicated or not included in this schedule shall be considered special users and shall be evaluated separately as provided below. If the information indicates the strength of sewage contributed by any of the following users is in excess in comparison with the allowable limits listed above, then a surcharge shall be levied against such users as provided below. Any of the users in the following schedule may be classified as special users if information on their contribution flow and/or strength indicates a need to do so. A single user having more than one classification of use shall be the total sum of the fees. The minimum monthly sewer user charge shall be one equivalent user.
EQUIVALENT USER SCHEDULE (1.0 Minimum)
Classification | Equivalent Users |
Classification | Equivalent Users |
Airport terminal for each 2,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Apartments, duplex and trailers in trailer courts (per each) | 1.00 |
Assembly hall or auditorium for each 200 seats | 1.00 |
Bank or savings and loan for each 3,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Bar or tavern | 1.00 |
Additional per 20 seats | 0.50 |
Barber and beauty shop per chair | 1.00 |
Additional per station over 2 | 0.50 |
Bowling alley | 1.00 |
Additional per lane over 3 | 0.20 |
Cafe | |
Per customer seating capacity (minimum 2.00) | 0.10 |
Drive-in, for each seat (minimum 1.00) | 0.05 |
Campsite (and KOA) for each trailer unit | 1.00 |
For each campsite | 0.46 |
Additional for RV dump | 4.00 |
Car dealer | |
No repair or wash facilities | 1.00 |
With wash bays and/or stalls | 0.46 |
Additional per stall | 0.50 |
Car washes, per stall | 2.00 |
Churches for each 50 seats | 1.00 |
Club or lodge for each 50 seats | 1.00 |
Condominium per unit | 1.00 |
Dentist for each practitioner | 2.00 |
Department store for each 3,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Doctor for each practitioner | 2.00 |
Drugstore for each 3,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Florist for each 1,500 square feet | 1.00 |
Fourplex per each unit | 1.00 |
Garage automotive repair | 1.00 |
Additional per stall over 2 | 0.50 |
Storage only | 1.00 |
Additional per stall over 2 | 0.02 |
Hardware store for each 3,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Hospital and/or convalescent home: | 1.00 |
Additional per bed | 0.30 |
Hotel/motel first unit | 1.00 |
Additional per unit | 0.25 |
Industrial use | Staff calculated |
Jail | 1.00 |
Additional per bed | 0.50 |
Laundry self-service up to 10 machines | 4.00 |
Additional machine over 10 | 0.25 |
Commercial | Staff calculated |
Mobile home and trailer park for each unit | 1.00 |
Multiple living unit for each unit | 1.00 |
Office building for each 2,500 square feet | 1.00 |
Photo lab, printing shop | Staff calculated |
Post office for each 2,500 square feet | 1.00 |
Residential units | 1.00 |
Restaurant | |
Fast food per customer seating capacity (minimum 1.00) | 0.05 |
Sit down, per customer seating capacity (minimum 2.00) | 0.10 |
Retail food store for each 1,500 square feet | 1.00 |
Retail store for each 3,000 square feet | 1.00 |
Schools per 25 students | 1.00 |
Service station | |
Gas and restroom only per set of pumps | 1.00 |
Full service and convenience store | 1.00 |
Tire store automotive repair | 1.00 |
Additional per stall over 2 | 0.50 |
Storage only | 1.00 |
Additional per stall over 2 | 0.02 |
Warehouse/storage unit for each 10,000 square feet | 1.00 |
D. Surcharge For Excessive Strength: When any user contributes wastewater having an average BOD and/or suspended solids loading in excess of the designated allowable limits hereinafter designated, a surcharge shall be levied against such user. Said surcharge shall be based on the average degree of excess loading, and applied as a percentage of the basic user charge as provided in the above schedule, or otherwise for special users. The BOD and suspended solids loading shall be determined from estimates or tests made by the City officials or its engineer. This user's monthly surcharge shall be computed by use of the following equation:
US = | ((b/B) - 1) + (s/S) - 1 x (UMC) |
2 |
Where: | |
US | Represents the user's monthly surcharge to be added to the basic user's monthly charge |
UMC | Represents the basic user's monthly charge (for treatment only) and shall not be less than 1.0 |
b | Represents the average BOD loading above which is a user's wastewater contribution, expressed in parts per million |
B | Represents the allowable limits of BOD loading above which a user's surcharge shall be levied, hereby designated as being 200 parts per million |
s | Represents the average suspended solids loading of the user's wastewater contribution, expressed in parts per million |
S | Represents the allowable limits of suspended solids loading above which a user's surcharge shall be levied, hereby designated as being 140 parts per million |
A copy of the list of users surcharged, the characteristics of their sewage, and the surcharge for each shall be kept on file at all times in the office of the City Clerk.
E. Special Users: If, in addition to excessive strength, a user is determined to add flow to the wastewater treatment facilities in excess of nine thousand six hundred (9,600) gallons per month, the above formula shall be increased by a factor of total flow divided by nine thousand six hundred (9,600) gallons per month multiplied by one equivalent user. In order to determine the flow of this special user, the City may monitor sewer and water flow in order to determine total flow. The value of UMC used in the formula above will be the same value as assigned to single dwelling units.
A copy of the list of special users, the characteristics of their sewage, and the special user's monthly charge shall be kept on file at all times in the office of the City Clerk.
F. Review And Revision Of Rates: The sewer user charges shall, as a minimum, be reviewed annually and updated by resolution of the council to reflect actual costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, and financing of the sewage collection and treatment facilities. Any revisions of the user charges shall be based on actual operations, maintenance, replacement, and financing expenses, and/or on significant changes in the total number of equivalent users, the total daily flow, the total daily BOD, and/or the total daily suspended solids. The City may install flow measuring devices and/or collect wastewater samples at any time in any user's service line to determine actual usage as a basis for revisions of the user's charge. Revisions due only to changes in expenses and user class shall be made by the City. Revisions involving user's flow, BOD and/or suspended solids shall normally only be made upon the recommendation of a registered professional engineer. All changes in user charges applicable to this chapter shall be computed by the methods outlined herein.
G. User Request For Rate Change: Any sewer user, who feels his user charge is unjust and inequitable as applied to his premises within the spirit and intent of the foregoing provisions, may make written application to the City Council requesting a review of his user charge. Said written request shall, where necessary, show the actual or estimated average flow and strength of his wastewater in comparison with the values upon which the charge is based, including how the measurements or estimates were made. Any flow measurements and/or testing of wastewater shall be approved in detail by the City and/or its engineer. Review of the request by the City Council shall determine if it is substantiated or not, including recommended further study of the matter for the City and/or user by a registered professional engineer.
Any and all costs pertaining to application shall be borne by the applicant. (Ord. 543, 5-5-2009; amd. Ord. 2021-621, 9-2-2021)