931.03  SEWER RATES AND CHARGES.
   For the operation of the sewerage system of The City of St. Marys and the payment of proper and reasonable expenses of operations, maintenance, repairs, replacements, improvements, additions, betterments and extensions of the sewerage system and for the payment of all sums required to pay the principal and interest of all revenue bonds and to meet all applicable reserve requirements as the same become due, there is hereby established a schedule of just and equitable rates and charges for the use of The City of St. Marys, West Virginia, which schedule of rates and charges, based upon the metered amount of water supplied to the premises served, except as otherwise specified herein, shall be:
   (a)   Applicable Rules and Regulations.
      (1)    Rules and Regulations for the Government of Sewerage Utilities adopted by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, and now in effect, and all amendments thereto, and modifications thereof hereafter made by said Commission.
      (2)   In the event a building or premises discharging sewage, water or other liquid wastes into the municipal sewage facilities uses water supplied on other than a metered basis from either a private or public water supply, then in each such case the owner or occupant may be required by the City to cause a water meter or other measuring device to be installed acceptable to the City; and the quantity of water used as measured by such meter shall determine the sewerage rate or charge; and pending installation of such meter, rates or charges shall be based upon an estimated quantity of water used.
      (3)   In the event a lot, parcel of land, building or premises uses water in excess of 7,500 gallons per month, and it can be shown to the satisfaction of the City that a substantial portion of the water as measured by the water meter does not and cannot enter the sewerage facilities of the City, then the City may determine in such manner as may be found practicable the amount of water entering the sewer system, and the sewerage rate or charge shall be based thereon; or, the City may require or permit the installation of additional meters or measuring devices in such a manner as to determine the quantity of water or sewage actually entering the sewerage facilities, in which case the sewerage rate or charge shall be based thereon.
   (b)   Rates and Charges for Sewerage Service.
      (1)   Applicability.  Applicable in entire territory served, based upon the metered amount of water supplied the premises.
      (2)   Availability.  Available for general domestic, commercial, industrial and public authority service.
         A.   Metered rates.
            1.   The first 3,000 gallons of water, or portion thereof, supplied to the premises per monthly billing period shall be billed at the Minimum Charge.
            2.   Each 1,000 gallons of water, or portion thereof, supplied to the premises per monthly billing period in excess of 3,000 gallons shall be billed at the rate of $11.66 per 1,000 gallons.
         B.   Correctional Facility.  In addition to payment of the other applicable rates set forth herein, the St. Marys Correctional Center shall also pay a Debt Service Charge per Month of $9,759.00.  This Debt Service Charge shall terminate upon the repayment in full of the indebtedness incurred by the City of St. Marys pursuant to its Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Revenue Bonds, Series 2009 A.
         C.   Flat Rate.  Premises or installations that receive sewer service but lack metered water service shall be charged a flat rate equal to the minimum water charge per month for the size water meter that would be required to serve the premises or installation if metered water service were provided.
         D.   Multiple Occupancy.  On apartment buildings, or other multiple occupancy buildings, including trailer courts, mobile or immobile, each household or business unit shall be required to pay not less than the minimum monthly charge herein established.  Motels and hotels shall pay according to the amount of water used.
         E.   Minimum Charge.  No bill based on metered water supplied to the premises will be rendered for less than $34.98 per monthly billing period or portion thereof. 
         F.   Delayed Payment Penalty.  The above schedule is net.  On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent will be added to the net current amount unpaid.  This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
         G.   Returned Check Charge.  A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the District or a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by their bank due to insufficient funds.
         H.   Leak Adjustment.  If an adjustment is made to a customer’s water bill or bills that reflect unusually high usage that can be attributed to eligible leakage on the customer’s side of the water meter under circumstances where the leaked water did not enter the City’s sewer system, the customer’s corresponding sewer bill or bills shall also be recalculated and adjusted to exclude any charges attributable to water that is determined to have leaked on the customer’s side of the water meter and not entered in to the City’s sewer system.
         I.   Tap Fee.  The following charges are to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant:
A tap fee of $450.00 will be charged to customers applying for service outside of a Certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
         J.   Service Connections.  The terms service connection and tapping fees shall be interchangeable.
            1.   Separate Connections Required.  Only one house or building shall be served by each sanitary sewer connection. When by reason of topography or other unusual circumstances Council authorizes a departure from the foregoing requirements of this section, a written agreement must be entered into absolving the City of all maintenance from buildings to main, whether in the street or not, and agreeing to separate connection charges for each residence or building.
               (Ord. 2013-1.  Passed 6-4-13.)