This article establishes a user charge system
and provides for the assessing of charges for the collection, conveyance,
treatment and disposal of sewage from users of public sewers and any
debt incurred thereby (hereinafter called the wastewater treatment
system).
On or after March 13, 1989, charges for the
use of the wastewater treatment system shall be based on the use of
such system.
A.
The amount due each quarter for the sewer rent and
any other charges provided herein shall be stated on the regular water
bill as a separate charge that indicates the rate (cost per 100 cubic
feet of sewer use) and the total sewer rent.
B.
All quarterly sewer charges provided for in this section
shall be due and payable at the same time water bills are due and
payable.
C.
All property owners shall be responsible for payment
of sewer rent charges and any other fees provided for in this article
and incurred by any user in connection with the premises of such owner.
D.
A ten-percent penalty shall be added for nonpayment
after the date on which the bill is due. Any charge or fee not paid
shall be a lien upon the premises served and shall be collectible
as provided by the General Municipal Law, Town Law and Real Property
Tax Law.
E.
All wastewater services may be discontinued without
further notice if the charges for such services are not paid within
25 days after the bill is due.
In the event that any user's discharge to the
sewer treatment system is of such a strength, such a volume, at such
a delivery flow rate or otherwise in violation of this chapter, the
sewer rent for such user shall be increased to ensure a proportional
distribution of treatment cost to each user.
A.
In the event that a user contributes wastewater to
the Town sanitary sewers from a source other than the public water
supply (e.g., private wells), the owner shall install and maintain,
at his own expense, a water meter approved by the Town.
B.
Any property owner may substitute actual wastewater
measurement for the purpose of determining the sewer rent charge.
Measurement must be from a wastewater flow meter installed at the
point of discharge into the Town public sewer system with prior approval
of the Town required. All costs associated with design, purchase,
installation, maintenance and operation shall be borne by the property
owner.
A.
In the event that a user claims a significant portion
of its metered water does not return to the sanitary sewer, such user
shall file a written statement to that effect with the Town.
B.
Upon receipt of such statement, the Town may, by written
agreement with the user, equitably adjust the rent provided for herein
to take into account the amount of such metered water not returning
to the sanitary sewer. In the alternative, the Town may require the
installation, at the user's expense, of a separate meter or meters
to measure the metered water returning to the sanitary sewer or to
meter the water which is not returning to the sanitary sewer. In the
event that such meter is installed, the sewer rent provided for herein
shall be reduced by the amount of water not discharged into the sewer
to the extent that, in the judgment of the Town, such amount is not
typical of other users similarly situated.
The system of sewer rents (user charges) described
herein shall take precedence over any inconsistent agreements.
