Sewer Rates

The below text is taken from City Code related to Sewer Rate Calculations.  Click the link for a copy of the code Chapter 29 Sewers and Sewage Disposal.

DIVISION 2. SERVICE CHARGES
Sec. 29-140. Generally.
Sewer service charges are hereby levied, according to the rate recommendation documented in the 1983 Burns and McDonnell rate study and hereby incorporated by reference as Appendix 1, against every residential, commercial, industrial and governmental establishment connected to public sewers and against all such establishments which are not connected to public sewers but for which sewer service is available. Sewer service shall be considered available if a sewer, which ultimately discharges into the city treatment works, is within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any part of the property on which a residential, commercial, industrial or governmental establishment exists. The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operation, maintaining and replacing the sewer system and equipment, and for the purpose of retiring the debt for the public wastewater treatment works.
(Code 1977, § 32-53; Ord. No. 9519, 10-6-80; Ord. No. 10090, § 1(32-53), 10-31-83; Ord. No. 13257, § 1, 9-4-2001)

Sec. 29-141. Rates and surcharges.
A. All residential, commercial, industrial and governmental establishments shall be charged for sewer service in accordance with the following rate table. The sewer service charge shall consist of a monthly fixed minimum charge plus a charge based upon the cubic feet of water used per month. The charges shall become effective on the dates listed in the table, and shall be applicable through the subsequent years until changed.

Sec. 29-142. Additional charge for users outside city. (color added for Web Page.. not on original)
All users outside the corporate limits of the city shall be required to pay an additional charge for use of that part of the system which serves their respective area, and shall be triple the fixed rate. The additional revenue derived from this charge shall be applied to the debt service portion of the sewer budget.
(Code 1977, § § 32-55(d); Ord. No. 9647, § 2, 7-6-81)

Sec. 29-143. Basis for computation.
A. Sewer service charges for residential establishments having an average monthly water
consumption for the months of January, February and March of one thousand five hundred (1,500) cubic feet or less shall be billed monthly for the twelve-month period beginning in June of each year on the basis of said average monthly water consumption for the immediately preceding months of January, February and March.

B. Sewer service charges for all residential establishments having an average monthly water consumption for the months of January, February and March of more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) cubic feet and sewer service charges for all commercial or industrial establishments and governmental establishments shall be billed monthly for the twelve-month period beginning in June of each year on the basis of actual quantity of monthly water consumption of such establishments.

(Ord. No. 13497, §1, 2-3-2003)

C. When a residential establishment is initially occupied and such establishment has no previous
record of water consumption, or if a change of occupancy occurs in a residential establishment, the sewer service charge shall be billed monthly on the basis of the actual monthly water consumption until such time as the rate of charges for such establishment may be determined under the provisions of subsections (A) and (B) of this section; provided, however, that in the event the initial or new occupant of such residential establishment has previously established a record of water consumption under the provisions of this division, the rate of charges for such establishment may be based on such previous record until such time as the rate of charge for such establishment may be determined under the provisions of subsections (A) and (B) of this section.
(Code 1977, § 32-55(a) - (c); Ord. No. 9519, 10-6-80)

Sec. 29-144. Measurement of water consumption.

A. The metered water consumption records of the Capital City Water Company, or its successor, as shown by its monthly water bills, shall be used to determine the amount of water consumption of all residential, commercial or industrial establishments and governmental establishments supplied with water by the Capital City Water Company, or its successor, for the purpose of computing sewer service charges under the provisions of this division.

B. All residential, commercial or industrial, and governmental establishments supplied with water from sources other than the Capital City Water Company, or its successor, shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the city, of the monthly quantity of water consumption by such establishments from such other sources and in such cases the monthly sewer service charges shall be based upon such evidence; otherwise the city shall estimate the monthly water consumption of such establishments, and such computation shall constitute the basis for the monthly sewer service charge for such establishments.
(Code 1977, § 32-56; Ord. No. 9519, 10-6-80)

Sec. 29-145. Adjustments.

A. Low Usage. When any residential, commercial or industrial, or governmental establishment, using in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) cubic feet of water per month, furnishes the city with evidence satisfactory to the city that such establishment actually discharged into the public sewers in the preceding calendar year less than ninety (90) percent of the water used by such establishment, the city may adjust the sewer service charges of such establishment for the next subsequent calendar year by computing same either on the basis of water discharged into the public sewers or by flat rate rather than on the amount of water consumption of such establishment.
(Code 1977, § 32-57; Ord. No. 9519, 10-6-80)

B. Flooding. When any residential, commercial industrial, or governmental establishment furnishes the city with evidence that it has been inundated or had a sewer backup caused by area flooding lasting more than fourteen (14) consecutive days after January 1, 1995, the city may adjust any bill on a pro-rated basis for the time sewer service was not available. The establishment must demonstrate that it has or will take steps to prevent sewer back flows due to flooding. Any request for adjustment must be filed within one year of the bill sought to be adjusted.
(Ord. No. 12416, § 1, 2-19-96)