(a) Computation of Unit Charges.
(1) The base unit charge for sewer usage shall be computed by apportioning total system operating costs to all users on the basis of volume of water usage or wastewater discharge as required in subsection (b) hereof, providing that all users of the system discharge normal strength wastewater as defined herein. When BOD, suspended solids or other pollutant concentrations from a user exceed the range of these pollutants in normal strength wastewater, a surcharge shall be added to the base charge in the manner provided in Section 933.15
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(2) Total system operating costs shall include operation, maintenance, equipment replacement for the wastewater disposal treatment works, plus all administrative costs allocable to these operations, plus all regularly scheduled, routine administration, operation, maintenance, equipment replacement, monitoring, surveillance and analysis of the City's pretreatment program for the control of incompatible and toxic pollutants.
(3) Pursuant to regulations promulgated under the Act, user charges shall be computed only in accordance with the model below:
Cu = Ct Vu Vt where Cu = a user's sewer charge per unit of time Ct = total system operating costs per unit of time Vt = total volume contribution per unit of time Vu = a user's total water usage or wastewater discharge in 100 cubic feet (cf) per unit of time Ct/Vt = unit cost of sewer service in $/100 c.f. |
(b) Metering and Billing Procedures.
(1) For lots, parcels of land, buildings or premises using water exclusively supplied by the waterworks serving the City, such sewage service charge or rental shall be based upon the quantity of water used thereon or therein as measured by the waterworks water meters and shall be at the rate established in Section 933.28 for each 100 cubic feet of water consumed/month.
(2) For lots, parcels of land, buildings or premises using water supplied either in whole or in part from sources other than the waterworks system serving the City, the Director may require the owner or other interested party to install water meters or other meters satisfactory to the Director to the extent necessary to measure all such supplies of water, and the quantity of water consumed on such lots, parcels of land, buildings or premises shall be deemed to be the aggregate amount disclosed by such meters; provided that, if the Director finds it is not practical to measure by meter any water supplied from sources other than the waterworks system of the City, he shall measure the same in such manner and by such method as he may find practicable in the light of the conditions and attending circumstances of the case; provided further, that such methods are in accordance with accepted engineering practices. The amount which would be payable at current City water rates, for the aggregate amount of water consumed and measured as provided in subsection (b)(2) hereof, shall then constitute the base for application of the sewerage service charge or rental provided in subsection (b)(1) hereof.
(3) In the event it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Director with respect to any lots, parcels of land, building or premises, that a portion of the water, from any source, consumed on the premises does not and cannot enter the system, then in each such case, the owner or other interested party may, at his expense, install and maintain separate metering devices which shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director that portion of the water so consumed on the lots, parcels of land, buildings or premises which is discharged into the system, and such portion shall then constitute the base for application of the sewerage service charge or rental provided in subsection (b)(1) hereof for these lots, parcels of land, buildings or premises.
(4) The sewerage service charge or rental established herein shall be payable at the office of an authorized collecting agent of the City and shall be billed at the same time, either quarterly or monthly, as may be applicable, and for the same period as water charges are billed. The rate or charge for such sewerage service shall be rendered with and placed upon the bill or statement submitted for the use of the water service of the City, or at the same time that water bills are rendered, in the event that subsection (b)(2) hereof applies. Debt service charges shall be levied equally upon all users in accordance with the rate established in Section 933.28
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(5) No free service or discounts of any kind shall be rendered by the system to the City or any department thereof, to any corporation, public or private, to any school, public or private, to any institutions, charitable or otherwise or to any other users. If any of the persons in this subsection (b)(5) hereof so enumerated avail themselves of the service of the system for general purposes or for any other purpose, the rates herein established, which are declared to be as to such person, reasonable rates, shall be charged against such person and shall be paid at the time and in the manner herein otherwise provided for the payment of such rates.
(6) Sewerage service charges levied at the rates established shall thereafter be billed in accordance with procedures established by the City Auditor.
(c) Revisions and Rate Increases. The Director, with the assistance of the Mayor, WWIP Manager, Auditor and Chairman of the Finance and Legislation Committee of Council, shall annually review total system operating costs and user charge rates and shall periodically recommend any necessary revisions in user charges to the legislative authority of the City for approval to ensure that sufficient revenue shall be available to defray total wastewater system operating costs.
(Ord. 87-8399. Passed 2-18-87.)