A. User classes.
(1) Users of the City wastewater treatment works shall be identified as belonging to one of the following classes:
(a) Residential.
(b) Commercial.
(c) Industrial.
(d) Institutional.
(e) Governmental.
(2) The allocation of users to these categories for the purpose of billing user charges shall be the responsibility of the Clerk/Treasurer in conjunction with the Public Works Department. Allocation of users to user classes shall be based on the substantive intent of the definitions of these classes contained in this article.
B. Determination of rates. The rates charged to residential users and those users of other classes who discharge normal domestic-strength wastewater shall be determined on the basis of wastewater volume only. Those industrial users who discharge normal domestic-strength wastewater only can be classified as commercial users for the purpose of rate determination.
C. Base charge. The base charge shall be billed equally to all users of the wastewater system for the recovery of administrative costs and the costs of groundwater infiltration and wastewater inflow. One base charge shall be billed to each wastewater system user and shall be determined by the residential equivalent units as established in Section 420.02 and included in Appendix A located at the end of this chapter. Editor's Note: Appendix A is on file in the office of the Clerk/Treasurer.
D. Multiple users. Where there is more than one dwelling, business or industry served through one wastewater connection, the base charge shall apply to each such dwelling unit, business unit or industry unit served through that connection.
E. Billable wastewater. The charges assessed residential users and those users of other classes discharging normal domestic-strength wastewater as described in the definition of "normal domestic-strength wastewater" in § 215-22 shall be established proportionately according to billable wastewater volume. Billable wastewater volume shall be calculated as follows:
(1) Residential users. Billable wastewater volume for residential users shall be calculated on the basis of metered water usage on the last quarter of every year. The quarterly wastewater volume shall be equal to metered water usage during that same billing cycle.
(2) For those residents with private well a meter will be installed on their well to determined sewer charges as described in Subsection E(1) above.
(3) Nonresidential users.
(a) Billable wastewater volume for nonresidential users shall be calculated on the basis of metered water usage on the last quarter of every year. The quarterly billable wastewater volume shall be equal to metered water usage during that same billing cycle.
(b) The City may require nonresidential users to install wastewater samplers for the purpose of determining wastewater volume and loading. When required, the samplers shall be of a type approved by the City Engineer and located at a sufficient number of sites to permit determination of wastewater characteristics.
(c) The measurement of the wastes shall be conducted according to the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater in a manner acceptable to the City as provided for in Article III, Sewer Service Regulations.
(4) Private septic tank dumping. The billable volume of wastewater dumped into the City system by a septic system contractor shall be estimated by the contractor, subject to review by the Public Works Department. The contractor shall submit a statement to the Clerk/Treasurer each quarter indicating the date of dumping, the source of the wastewater, the volume dumped and the total volume for the quarter.
F. Wastewater rates. The following rates are established for wastewater produced each quarter of the year.
(1) Wastewater produced. The charge per 1,000 gallons produced is as specified in Appendix A, located as an attachment to this chapter. Editor's Note: Appendix A is on file in the office of the Clerk/Treasurer.
(2) Private septic tank dumping. Those dumping wastewater from a private septic system into the City treatment facility shall be charged the fee as specified in the fee schedule, as amended time to time by the City Council.
G. Assessment/contractual agreements not prohibited. The sewer service charges established in this article shall not prevent either the assessment of additional charges to users who discharge wastes with concentrations greater than normal domestic-strength or wastes of unusual character, or contractual agreements with such users, as long as the following conditions are met:
(1) A user is not charged at a rate less than that of normal domestic-strength wastewater.
(2) The user pays operation, maintenance and replacement costs in proportion to the user's contribution of wastewater flow and loading to the treatment plant.
(3) The measurements of wastes are conducted according to the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater in a manner acceptable to the Council as provided for in Article III, Sewer Service Regulations.
(4) The City's NPDES permit and sewer use regulations are not violated.
(5) A study of unit costs of treatment processes attributable to flow, BOD, TSS and other significant loadings shall be developed for determining the proportionate allocation of costs to users discharging wastes of greater than normal domestic-strength or wastes of unusual character.