(A) Compliance with federal regulations for the implementation of user charges.
(1) Sewer service charges.
(a) Generally.
1. Sewer service charges shall be charges levied on all users who discharge, cause, or permit the discharge of sewage into the public sewage treatment system.
2. Sewer service charges shall be comprised of a system of user charges, excessive strength, or toxicity surcharges and a system of charges for debt service.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this division (A)(1), the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHARGES FOR DEBT SERVICES. Charge levied on users of the sewage treatment system to support the annual debt service obligations of the system.
EXCESSIVE STRENGTH OR TOXICITY SURCHARGES. Charges levied on users of the sewage treatment system whose contribution contains pollutants (both conventional and toxic) in concentrations which exceed limits specified by latest city sewer use ordinance for such pollutants.
USER CHARGES. Charges levied on users of the sewage system to offset the cost of operations and maintenance of the system.
(2) Sewer rates.
(a) The following schedule of rates shall apply to each user of the sewage treatment system. This schedule includes the rate for user charges as established in this division (A)(2) and the rate for debt service charge, each based on the volume of metered water consumption unless otherwise noted.
(b) Sewer rate schedule for city customers are the same as water rates.
(c) 1. Sewer rates provided in this division (A)(2) are based on the underlying assumption that all metered water consumption in eventually returned to the sewage treatment system. Where it can be evidenced that the proportion of water actually returned to the treatment system by an individual customer is significantly different from the metered consumption, service charges shall be determined on the basis of measured or estimated wastewater discharge.
2. The city reserves the right to determine by whatever means and methods it may find practicable, the amount of water consumption, and/or wastewater discharge that shall be used to compute sewer service charges.
(d) Users having a discharge over the normal sewage strength of 300 mg/l total suspended solids and/or 250 mg/l biochemical oxygen demand shall incur an additional charge of $.066 per pound of biochemical oxygen demand and $0.055 per pound of suspended solids.
(3) Method of billing.
(a) Sewer service charge shall be billed to each user on a monthly basis and shall be computed in accordance with each user’s water consumption and strength or toxicity of discharge during the billed-for period.
(b) No reduction in sewer charges, fees, or taxes shall be permitted in the event that certain wastes discharged to the sewage treatment system contain pollutants in less concentrations than specified maximum limitations.
(c) Each user shall be notified, at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and that portion of the total charge which is attributable to operations and maintenance of the sewage system.
(d) Sewer charges to any customer who is initially rendered services for less than one month shall be pro-rated on the basis of the foregoing charges for the fractional part of the month for which services were rendered.
(4) Rate review.
(a) The city shall review rates as follows:
1. The city shall review not less often than every two years the sewage contributions of users, the total cost of operation and maintenance of the sewage works, and user charges; and
2. User charges shall be revised as necessary to accomplish the following:
a. Maintain the proportionate distribution of operations and maintenance cost among users of the treatment system; and
b. Generate sufficient revenues to offset costs associated with the proper operation and maintenance of the sewage system.
(b) Excessive strength and toxicity surcharges shall be reviewed at the time of and in conjunction with the review of user charges. Surcharge rates shall be revised where necessary to reflect current treatment and monitoring costs.
(B) Sewer use charge.
(1) (a) It is determined and declared to be necessary and conducive to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the city to collect charges from all users who contribute wastewater to the city treatment works.
(b) The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operating and maintain the public wastewater treatment works.
(2) For the purpose of this division (B), the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOD (DENOTING BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND). The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20°C, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l).
COMMERCIAL USER. All retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, laundries, and other private business and service establishments.
DEBT SERVICE. Charges levied on users of the wastewater treatment works to support the annual debt service obligations of the system.
GOVERNMENTAL USER. Includes legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities of federal, state, and local governments.
INDUSTRIAL USER (IU). A source of indirect discharge which does not constitute a discharge of pollutants under regulations issued pursuant to § 402 of the Clean Water Act, being 33 U.S.C. § 1342.
INSTITUTIONAL USER. Includes social, charitable, religious, and educational activities such as schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, penal institutions, and similar institutional users.
NORMAL DOMESTIC WASTEWATER. Wastewater that has a BOD concentration of not more than 200 mg/l and a suspended solids concentration of not more than 200 mg/l and any other pollutant to be determined.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. Those junctions that result in expenditures during the useful life of the treatment works for materials, labor, utilities, and other items which are necessary for managing and for which such works were designed and constructed. The term OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE includes REPLACEMENT as stated below.
REPLACEMENT. Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories, or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
RESIDENTIAL USER. Any contributor to the Scottsville Treatment Works whose lot, parcel, or real estate, or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only.
SHALL. Is mandatory; MAY is permissive.
SS (DENOTING SUSPENDED SOLIDS). Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
TREATMENT WORKS. Any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal wastewater, domestic wastewater, or liquid industrial wastes. These include interception sewers, outfall sewers, wastewater collection systems, pumping, power, and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions, and alterations thereof elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clearwell facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the land that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment (including land for composting sludge, temporary storage of such compost, and land used for the storage of treated wastewater in land treatment systems before land application); or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating, or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
USEFUL LIFE. The estimated period during which a treatment works will be operated.
USER CHARGE. The total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance, replacement, and debt service expenses of the wastewater treatment works.
WATER METER. A water volume measuring and recording device, furnished, and/or installed by the city and approved by the Water/Sewer/Gas Department.
(C) The revenues collected, as a result of the user charges levied, shall be deposited in a separate non-lapsing fund known as the Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Fund.
(D) Fiscal year-end balances in the Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Fund shall be used for no other purposes than those designated. Monies which have been transferred from other sources to meet temporary shortages in the Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Fund shall be returned to their respective accounts upon appropriate adjustment of the user charge rates for operation, maintenance, and replacement. The user charge rate(s) shall be adjusted such that the transferred monies will be returned to their respective accounts within six months of the fiscal year in which the monies were borrowed.
(E) (1) The following schedule of user charge rates shall apply to each user of the wastewater treatment works. This schedule includes rates for OM&R and rates for debt service charges, each based on the volume of metered or estimated water consumption.
Wastewater Services Monthly Rate Schedule
| ||
Water Consumption Total Gallons | Minimum Bill | |
From | To | |
0 | 2,000 | $17.47 |
2,000 | Over | Same as water rates |
(2) For residential, industrial, institutional, and commercial users, monthly user charges will be based on actual water usage (100%). If a residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial user has a consumptive use of water, or, in some other manner, uses water which is not discharged into the wastewater collection system, the user charge for that contributor may be based on readings of a wastewater meter(s) or separate water meter(s) installed and maintained at the user’s expense.
The City of Scottsville’s industrial pretreatment program is active. Should the program become inactive, then divisions (E)(3) and (E)(4) below will be left blank. |
(3) (a) For those users whose wastewater has a greater strength than the normal domestic wastewater, a surcharge in addition to the normal use charge will be collected.
(b) The following surcharge rates shall apply to each user of the treatment works that has received permission from the Superintendent or his or her designated authority to contribute excessive strength sewage.
Surcharge Rates
| |
BOD | $0.24 per pound |
SS | $0.18 per pound |
Ammonia as N | $1.10 per pound |
(4) The excessive strength surcharge shall be based on a formula with the total applied to the monthly bill of affected users.
Surcharge Formula No reduction in wastewater service charges, fees, or taxes shall be permitted because of the fact that certain wastes discharges to the wastewater works contain less than 250_mg/l of BOD, 250.0 mg/l of SS or 20.0 mg/l of Ammonia as N |
(F) The City Finance Officer shall maintain financial records to accurately account for revenues generated by the treatment system and expenditures for operation and maintenance of the system, including normal replacement costs.
(G) The city shall review not less often than annually the wastewater contribution of users, the total cost of OM&R of the wastewater works, debt service obligations, and user charge rates. Based on such review, the city shall revise, when necessary, the schedule of user charge rates to accomplish the following:
(1) Maintain an equitable distribution of OM&R costs among users of the treatment system;
(2) Generate sufficient revenues to offset costs associated with the proper operation and maintenance of the wastewater system and to meet debt service requirements; and
(3) Excessive strength and toxicity surcharges shall be reviewed at the time of and in conjunction with the review of user charges. Surcharge rates shall be revised where necessary to reflect current treatment and monitoring costs.
(4) Each user shall be notified, at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill of the rate and that portion of the total charge which is attributable to OM&R of the wastewater system.
(H) (1) All users shall be billed monthly. Billings for an particular month shall be by the first of the month. Payments are due by the twentieth day of the month. Any payment not received by the fifth of the following month shall be considered delinquent.
(2) A late payment penalty of 10% of the user charge bill will be added to each delinquent bill for each 30 days or portions thereof of delinquency. When any bill is more than 30 days in default, water and/or wastewater service to such premises shall be disconnected until such bill is paid.
(I) This section shall be in full force and effect immediately following its passage, approval, and publication, as provided by law.
(Ord. 592, passed - -; Ord. 656-97, passed 5-5-1997) Penalty, see § 53.99
Cross-reference:
Consolidated water and sewer system, see § 53.01