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City of Rahway, NJ
Union County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (3) Index Notes (1)
Public Documents
Legislation (3)
[Adopted 12-07-2007 by Ord. No. O-46-07]
There is created and established upon the effective date of this article a municipally owned public utility to be known as the "City of Rahway Sewer Utility," hereinafter referred to as the "Sewer Utility." The authorized operations of the Sewer Utility shall consist of the operation, management, control and maintenance of the sewer system and all extensions and improvements hereafter made thereto, together with all services relating to such purposes, including the billing and collection of sewer user fees and connection fees.
The Mayor is authorized to appoint an individual who shall be responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the Sewer Utility, including proposing the annual budget for the Sewer Utility and making recommendations to the Municipal Council regarding sanitary sewer service rates and charges, the classification of users, general policy oversight of Sewer Utility administration and operations and the review and investigation of grievances. All personnel of the Sewer Utility shall be municipal employees; however, the salaries of the employees or appointments of the Sewer Utility shall be paid from the Sewer Utility Fund.
All moneys derived from the operations of the Sewer Utility and other moneys applicable to its support shall be segregated and kept in a separate fund, known as the "Sewer Utility Fund," and treated as moneys held in trust for the purposes for which the Sewer Utility was created. Moneys in the Sewer Utility Fund shall be applied only to costs of the Sewer Utility or as otherwise permitted by law and shall be accounted for in accordance with the Local Budget Law[1] and the Local Bond Law.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:2-1 et seq.
The budget of the Sewer Utility and the appropriations and disbursements from the Sewer Utility Fund shall be in compliance with the Local Budget Law and other applicable law.
[Amended 6-30-2009 by Ord. No. O-29-09; 8-8-2011 by Ord. No. O-24-2011; 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. O-3-16]
A. 
The charges and rents for connection to and use of the sewer system shall be fixed by this Part 5 and shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the provisions of this article. The purpose of this Part 5 is to impose an annual user fee as hereinafter defined on all domestic, commercial, industrial, institutional and government users of the Sewer Utility. A "user fee" is defined as a fee levied upon all users of the Sewer Utility for the annual cost of operation and maintenance of the Sewer Utility.
[Amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. O-08-17; 9-9-2019 by Ord. No. O-18-19]
B. 
Classes of user. The following classes of user are hereby established:
(1) 
Residential domestic.
(2) 
Commercial domestic.
(3) 
Governmental.
(4) 
Not-for-profit.
(5) 
Industrial (non-SIU).
(6) 
Significant industrial use (SIU).
(7) 
Apartments.
C. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APARTMENT
Residential building housing more than four residential units.
COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC
Any user not classified elsewhere herein.
GOVERNMENTAL
Any user operating as an extension of the federal, state, county, or municipal government.
INDUSTRIAL USERS
Users located within an industrial zone of the City of Rahway that generate wastewater other than domestic waste as a result of their operation, such as process water, cooling water, wash down etc. Such users will not generate sufficient quantities of wastewater to be classified as "significant industrial users" by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and/or the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority (RVSA).
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Users designated as 501c (6) or 501c (3) under the IRS tax code.
RESIDENTIAL DOMESTIC
Any user where sole use of property is as a residential dwelling unit, including condominium units.
SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USERS
Industrial users generating sufficient wastewater quantities to meet definitions established by the NJDEP and/or the RVSA and shall meet all Township, RVSA and NJDEP monitoring and reporting requirements.
[Amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. O-08-17; 9-9-2019 by Ord. No. O-18-19]
D. 
User fees. User fees are established as follows:
[Amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. O-08-17; 9-9-2019 by Ord. No. O-18-19[1]; 11-12-2019 by Ord. No. O-28-19[2]; 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. O-31-23]
(1) 
Residential; annual charge:
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
(a)
Single family:
$350
$385
$416
$449
$472
$495
$520
$546
(b)
Two family:
$552
$607
$656
$708
$744
$781
$820
$861
(c)
Condominium:
$285
$314
$339
$366
$384
$403
$423
$444
(d)
For each additional family unit above a two-family, the annual charge shall be the current year amount plus $185 for each family unit above a two-family home.
(e)
For all properties owned by senior citizens and which qualify for a senior citizen tax deduction pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.40 et seq., the rates shall be $50.
(2) 
Commercial; industrial:
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
(a)
Minimum annual charge per account (plus usage):
$498
$548
$592
$639
$671
$704
$740
$777
(b)
Usage: per 1,000 gallons.
$5.90
$6.49
$7.01
$7.57
$7.95
$8.35
$8.76
$9.20
(3) 
Not-for-profit; apartment; governmental:
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
(a)
Minimum annual charge per account (plus usage):
$186
$205
$221
$239
$251
$263
$276
$290
(b)
Usage: per 1,000 gallons.
$3.75
$4.13
$4.46
$4.81
$5.05
$5.30
$5.57
$5.85
(4) 
Significant industrial user (e.g., Merck):
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
(a)
Minimum annual charge per account (plus usage):
$498
$548
$592
$636
$671
$704
$740
$777
(b)
Usage: per 1,000 gallons.
$7.50
$8.25
$8.91
$9.62
$10.10
$10.61
$11.14
$11.70
(5) 
Significant industrial users' solid waste charges. In addition to the billing charges assessed herein, the significant industrial users will be charged those fees assessed by the RVSA based on BOD and TSS.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that rates be effective on October 1 of the year listed.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that rates be effective on January 1 of the year listed.
E. 
Calculation of usage. The Sewer Utility will assess user fees based on actual water usage as reported by the appropriate water purveyor. However, should the user have a separate discharge meter in place, the usage will be calculated as the actual flow discharged into the system.
F. 
Billing of user fees. User fees will be billed effective July 1, 2009. Residential users shall be billed on a quarterly basis consistent with the cycle used for water charges. Commercial, industrial, Merck, not-for-profit, apartment and commercial users shall be billed monthly.
G. 
Late payments. Users will be subject to the payment of interest and penalties for payments received after the due date. Users will be assessed penalties in the manner established by the City for payment on late property tax payments.
H. 
Appeals. Users who believe that either flow or classification has been improperly calculated may appeal by submitting written documentation to the City Engineer.