(A) (1) Rates and charges for sewer service shall be based insofar as possible upon the quantity of water supplied to the respective buildings or premises by the water district or such other source as may be a source of water thereto in accordance with the following schedule:
Monthly Sewer Rates
Minimum bill - First 2,000 gallons $10.40
All over 2,000 gallons $ 5.202 per 1,000 gallons
(2) Further, there is hereby established an annual cost of living increase to be calculated effective July 1 of each year beginning with July 1, 2011 on which dates the rates hereby established shall automatically be increased by 2.5%. However, the City Commission of the City of Simpsonville may, by vote taken on or before June 15 preceding said date vote to waive all or any portion of the increase for that year.
(B) In the event that a building or premises discharging sewage, water or other flowable wastes into the municipal sewer facilities uses water from a well, cistern, or on other than a metered basis from either a private or public water supply, then in each such case the sewer user may elect, either:
(1) To install, solely at the expense of the sewer user, a water meter or other measuring device, acceptable to the governing body of the city or to its duly authorized agent in charge of the operation of the municipal sewer system; and the quantity of water, sewage, or other flowable wastes, as measured by such meter or device shall be used in determining the monthly sewer bill, according to the rates set forth herein; or
(2) To be billed based upon a minimum usage of 5,000 gallons per month. The city may require that there be installed, solely at the expense of the sewer user, a sewer cut-off valve, approved by the city or its duly authorized agent in charge of the operation of the municipal sewer system; and in the event of delinquency in the payment of the monthly sewer service bill to the premises, the city may order that such sewer cut-off valve be closed, whereupon the sewer user will become subject to the penalties prescribed in § 50.99 as in the case of sewer users otherwise failing or refusing to comply with the provisions of this chapter. In case of such cut-off, the city shall have no liability for damage to person or property resulting from use or installation of a cut-off valve.
(C) Unusual sewage discharges. In the event the sewage, water or other liquid wastes being discharged into the municipal sewer facilities from any building or premises contains unduly high concentrates of any substances which add to the operating costs of the municipal sewer facilities, then special rates, rentals, or charges may be established, charged and collected as to such building or premises, or the owner or other interested party may be required to specially treat such sewage, water or other liquid wastes before it is discharged into the municipal sewer facilities. (See §§ 50.06 and 50.07) Such charges, rentals and special rates may be retroactive to the time it is determined that such unduly high concentrations began.
(D) Other special classifications. Whenever it is determined by the governing body of the city or its duly authorized agent which may be in charge and control of the operations of said municipal waterworks and sewer systems, to be necessary to classify any commercial institutions or industries by reason of the unusual purpose for which water is used, or by reason of the character of the sewage, water or other liquid wastes discharged therefrom, or whenever the established schedules of rates and charges for any reason are not applicable, then special rates or other charges may be established by the governing body of the city, and any person, firm or corporation being dissatisfied with the established schedules of rates and charges by reason of peculiar or unusual use or occupancy or any premises, and consequently alleging peculiar or unusual uses of water, may file application with the governing body of the city or with any other board or body of said city which may be in charge and control of the municipal waterworks and sewer systems, for special classification rates and charges. (See §§ 50.07 and 50.08)
(E) Owners and occupants jointly liable. The rates and charges aforesaid shall be billed to the owners or occupants of the premises, and if the occupant of any premises is not also the owner, both the owner and the occupant shall be responsible for the payment of the sewer bill, which, if unpaid, shall constitute a lien upon the premises.
(F) In the event that any single family residential connection uses water in excess of 10,000 gallons during the months of June, July or August (being billings that are sent in July, August and September), then it will be presumed that any amount in excess of 10,000 gallons was utilized for lawn watering, swimming pool filling and/or other non-sewered purposes and the sewer bill shall be based upon 10,000 gallons of consumption for that month.
(G) In the event that any residential building or premises uses water in excess of 10,000 gallons per month as shown by the water meter readings for a period not exceeding two consecutive months and it can be shown by the customer that a substantial portion of the water as so measured does not and cannot enter the municipal sewer system, then the Sewer Board or its agent may, upon timely request of the customer, make adjustment to the sewer bill for the portion of the sewer bill attributable to the portion shown not to have entered the municipal sewer facilities. If the reason for the requested adjustment is a break in a water fine, then the request of the customer must be accompanied by proof of repairs. If the cause of the excess water usage is other than a leak (e.g. watering, filling swimming pool or some other use) then the request must be accompanied by such proof as is satisfactory to the Sewer Board or its agent. A request shall be deemed timely only if made before the payment due date for the bill on which adjustment is requested.
(H) By agreement between the city and West Shelby Water District (the District), the District will furnish to the city the monthly water meter readings of all customers of the District which are connected with the city sewer facilities and the city's sewer bills to such users will be calculated upon the basis of such water meter readings.
(Ord. 2009-006, passed 6-17-2009; Am. Ord. 2011-01, passed 5-2-2011)