(a) User charges shall be as set forth in Part Two - Title Twelve, Chapter 298 of these Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 95-74, passed 12-14-1995; Am. Ord. 04-19, passed 5-13-2004; Am. Ord. 12-08, passed 3-22-2012)
(b) (1) The minimum service user charge shall be as set forth in Part Two - Title Twelve, Chapter 298 of these Codified Ordinances.
(2) For multi-family units, the minimum charge shall be based on the size of the meter or the number of units times a fee as set forth in Part Two - Title Twelve, Chapter 298 of these Codified Ordinances, whichever is greater. Where the user does not have city water service, the minimum charge shall be a fee as set forth in Part Two - Title Twelve, Chapter 298 of these Codified Ordinances.
(Am. Ord. 12-08, passed 3-22-2012)
(3) For wastewater customers discharging to a public lift station, the minimum charge shall be calculated by adding the user charge, the debt service charge and the lift station user charge, then multiplying that sum by two.
(Ord. 99-35, passed 8-12-1999)
(c) The service charges shall be computed on the basis of the water purchased from the city, as registered by the water meter or meters, unless the actual quantity of wastewater entering the sanitary sewer system can be determined, as specified hereinafter.
(d) Each premises served by the sanitary sewer system of the city shall be charged, and where a premises is served by more than one sewer connection, a combined charge shall be levied based on the total flow from all connections. However, where the property is not occupied, a minimum charge shall be levied for each sewer connection.
(e) Where more than one meter is installed, whether for the convenience of the owner of the premises or the city, service charges shall be rendered to the owner of the premises for each meter, unless the combined flow through all meters is authorized by the Director.
(f) When a person can show to the satisfaction of the Director that a portion of the water, as measured by the water meter(s), does not enter the sanitary sewer system, such as uncontaminated cooling water, such person may submit an application, in writing, to the Director for the installation of an auxiliary water meter. The Director has the authority to permit or to require an additional meter(s) to be installed, at the applicant’s expense, so as to measure the quantity of water actually entering the sanitary sewer system. The quantity of water used to determine the service charges shall be the quantity of water actually entering the sanitary sewer system as so determined.
(g) If the Director finds that it is not practicable to measure such water by meters, he or she shall determine the volume of wastewater in any manner or method that he or she may find practicable, in order to arrive at the percentage of metered water entering the sanitary sewer system, and the quantity of water used to determine the sewer service charges shall be that percentage so determined.
(h) In the event that the conditions set forth in subsection (g) hereof are not, for any reason, met, all water metered to the premises shall be used for billing purposes.
(i) When premises are supplied, either in whole or in part, with water from wells or any source other than a public water supply, such wells or source of supply shall be registered, in writing, with the Director. The owner of the premises shall install and maintain, at his or her expense, a meter or meters acceptable to the Director on all such supplies, and the quantity of water used to determine the service charges shall be the quantity measured by the meter or meters. If the meter or meters are not installed within six months from the date of notification, in writing, by the Director, the owner or other users of the premises shall be billed double the minimum charge.
(j) (1) Where an auxiliary meter (or meters) is required for the proper determination of water subject to the service charges, such meter shall be installed only after approval has been granted by the Director. Such meters shall be installed, owned and maintained by the property owner. Venturi meters, flumes, weirs and other methods of measuring flow shall be used only when authorized by the Director. Meters which will be approved are as follows:
A. Meters purchased from the city;
B. Meters equal or similar to those referred to in subsection (j)(1)A. hereof, purchased elsewhere and tested by the city; or
C. Crest or turbine-type meters two inches in size or larger, to be used where it is established that the particular meter is under full head at all times, provided that such meters are tested and approved for large constant flows by the city.
(2) Existing private meters now in place may be continued in use on a conditional basis. If such meters are suspected of faulty registration, they are subject to a test, when so ordered by the Director.
(3) Other meters shall be tested by the manufacturer of the meter, and a certificate of the test shall be furnished to the Director. Such meters shall not be used without the written approval of the Director.
(4) It is understood that where an auxiliary meter has been installed, such a meter shall not be removed without the approval of the Director.
(k) (1) All meters shall be installed in accordance with the standards, rules and regulations of the city.
(2) Where private meters are used on wells, or in an industrial water distribution system, and such meters are set behind the primary water supply meter, the aforementioned standards, rules and regulations may be modified or waived by the Director.
(l) Fire protection service branches shall be exempt from all service charges, except for water used for purposes other than fire protection.
(m) (1) Where a sanitary or combined sewer in the area served by the city is available to any lot, parcel of land, building or premises which are improved, it is a conclusive presumption that wastewater from such lot, parcel of land, building or premises which are improved is being discharged into such sewer, and the owner shall be billed the service charges as provided herein.
(2) Any lot, parcel of land, building or premises abutting a street, alley or easement in which there is a public sanitary or combined sewer shall be deemed to have available access to a sanitary sewer, and the owner or other users of such real property shall connect to such sewer within six months from the date the owner is notified in writing by the city that the sewer is made available for use to his or her or their property.
(3) In the event the owner or other users of the real property are not connected on such date, the minimum charge specified under subsection (b) hereof shall be imposed upon such property. See § 1044.03(d).
(Ord. 82-14, passed 3-25-1982; Am. Ord. 08-05, passed 1-10-2008)