(A) 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. Rates or charges for sewer service shall be based upon the quantity of water measured by the water meter supplied to the respective building or premises.
(B) Sewer service charges shall be comprised of a system of user charges, excessive strength surcharges, a system of charges for debt service and may include return on investment.
(C) User charges shall mean charges levied on users of the sewage system to offset the cost of operations and maintenance of the system including simple replacement costs.
(D) Excessive strength surcharges mean charges levied on users of the sewage treatment system whose contributions contain conventional pollutants in concentrations which exceed the limits specified herein for such pollutants and who are permitted to make such contributions to the system by decision of the Municipal Water and Sewer Commission. In the event that the Commission shall permit a user to discharge waste to the sewage works having an average biochemical demand (BOD5) in excess of 250 mg/l, and/or an average suspended solids (TSS) content in excess of 250 mg/l, and/or an average ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N) content in excess of 25 mg/l, the user shall pay a surcharge based upon the excess strength of its wastes.
(E) Charges for debt service shall mean charges levied on users of the sewage treatment system to support the annual debt service obligations of the system.
(F) No reduction in sewage service charges, fees, or taxes shall be permitted because of the fact that certain wastes discharged to the sewage works contain less than the 250 mg/l of BOD5, 250 mg/l of TSS, or 25 mg/l NH3-N.
(G) The Commission shall review not less than every two (2) years the sewage contribution of users, and the total cost of operation and maintenance of the sewage works, and user charges. Based on such a review, the Commission shall recommend to the city, when necessary, a revised schedule of user charges which shall accomplish the following:
(1) Maintain the proportionate distribution of operations and maintenance costs among users of the treatment system.
(2) Generate sufficient revenues to offset the costs associated with the proper operation and maintenance of the system, including depreciation expense (through renewal and replacement costs) and transfers.
(3) Generate sufficient revenues to support the annual debt service of the system.
(4) Review excessive strength surcharges every two (2) years.
(Ord. 94-07-21, passed - -; Am. Ord. 96-03-07(B), passed 3-21-96; Am. Ord. 2002-12-05(A), passed 12-05-02; Am. Ord. 2004-06-03, passed 6-3-04; Am. Ord. 2005-06-16, passed 6-16-05; Am. Ord. 2007-6-21(B), passed 6-21-07; Am. Ord. 2008-12-04, passed 12-4-08; Am. Ord. 2011-02-03, passed 2-3-11; Am. Ord. 2015-07-02, passed 7-2-15; Am. Ord. 2016-12-15, passed 12-15-16; Am. Ord. 2018-12-06, passed 12-06-18; Am. Ord. 2020-03-05, passed 3-5-20; Am. Ord. 2021-03-18, passed 3-18-21)