There is hereby imposed upon and shall be payable by each owner of each property connected to or served by the sewer system a sewer use charge, payable quarterly as hereinafter provided, for the use, whether of the sewer system based on the schedule of use classifications and rates, or charges hereinafter set forth. The Authority utilizes a flat-rate billing system. The flat-rate system must be utilized unless specific permission to utilize another method of calculation is granted by this chapter.
A. 
The sewer use charge imposed upon the owner of each property served by the sewer system is $75 per equivalent dwelling unit, per quarter. The sewer use charge shall be calculated by multiplying the number of equivalent dwelling unit ratings assigned to each type of use as defined by the schedule of classifications found in § 165-5, times the current sewer use charge.
B. 
If two or more dwellings, apartments, stores, offices, industrial units, etc., are connected through a single lateral, or if two or more households use separate kitchen and/or bathroom facilities in a single dwelling, or if two or more types of use are made of the same property, the sewer use charge payable under the forgoing schedule shall be computed as though each such dwelling, apartment, store, office, industrial unit, etc., and each such household and each such type of use were a separate property or user with a separate connection to the sewer.
C. 
In the event that the Authority is not provided, upon request, with accurate information regarding the use, including supporting documentation, to determine the number of FTEs or pupils using any property or such other data as may be necessary to determine a user classification or rate, the Authority's estimate or determination thereof shall be final.
D. 
The Authority reserves the right to change equivalent dwelling unit ratings from time to time, to add or delete property classifications and, in cases of dispute, to determine the proper classification of a given improved property.
If the use or classification of any improved property should change, the owner must notify the Authority in writing within 15 days after the occupancy occurs or the occupancy permit is issued. A full month of service will be charged if the use or classification has changed after the 10th day of the month.
The sewer use charge imposed by the Authority shall be payable quarterly in advance. Each calendar quarter shall be invoiced and payable within 30 days after the invoice date.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 165-19, Use of water meters for billing purposes, see now Ch. 155, Article II, Meter Use for Sewer Rent Billing.
Property owners who discharge extra strength wastewater will be surcharged. Refer to § 110-15 of the Authority's rules and regulations for the fees.
Whenever any person discharges or permits to be discharged any material into the public sanitary sewer system by any means other than through a connection approved in accordance with the Authority's rules and regulations, the Authority reserves the right to estimate the quantity and strength of the discharge and to make an appropriate charge based on the estimate.
A. 
Penalty and interest. The charges for sewer service shall be subject to a penalty of 10% if not paid within 30 days after the date of the bill. If sewer rental is not paid within 60 days after the date of the bill, the bill plus the penalty shall bear interest from the due date at the rate of 0.83% per month or fraction thereof until paid.
B. 
Evidence of payment by mail. Payments made for sewer service, as evidenced by the United States Postal Office mark, on or before the end of the period during which the bills are payable at the face amount will be deemed to be a payment within such period.
C. 
Nonreceipt of bill. All persons connected to the sewer system must give the Authority their correct mailing address. Failure to receive a bill for sewer service will not be considered an acceptable excuse for nonpayment nor permit an extension of the period during which bills are payable at the face amount.
D. 
Collection of delinquent accounts.
(1) 
All sewer rental charges, including all penalties and interest incurred to that date, not paid within 120 days of the original billing due date will be subject to the Authority delinquent account collection procedures. The Business Manager is authorized and directed to utilize any and/or all legal methods to collect the delinquent accounts.
(2) 
Delinquent sewer rentals, together with all penalties thereon, may be placed as a lien on the property served and accordingly shall be entered as a lien against such property in the office of the Prothonotary of Chester County and shall be collected in the manner provided by law for the filing and collection of such items.
(3) 
The total cost that the Authority incurs in the process of collecting the delinquent account or liening the property served will be charged to the individual delinquent customer's account and must be paid.
A. 
All owners of properties served by the sewer system must complete an application for service in which the owner must provide:
(1) 
The owner's correct name, mailing address;
(2) 
The address receiving the sewer service;
(3) 
The type of use.
B. 
In cases of industrial, commercial or institutional uses additional information may be requested. At a minimum this information is due upon initial occupancy or when changes in ownership, use and/or address occur. In cases of industrial, commercial or institutional uses the Authority shall request and the owner shall provide this information at least annually.
C. 
All invoices for sewer use charges shall be sent to and the responsibility of the property owners connected with the sewer system as distinguished from lessees, tenants, or purchasers under agreement of sale. Nothing herein shall be construed, however, to prevent the Authority from collecting amounts due from any person legally liable upon due notice to such party of the amount due. Failure to receive an invoice for sewer service will not be considered an acceptable excuse for nonpayment nor permit an extension of the time period during which invoices are payable at the face amount.
D. 
Property owners who fail to notify the Authority of a change in ownership of a served property will be responsible for any and all previous charges from the date that ownership or use changes.
E. 
Owners of property newly connected to the sewer system or where there has been a change in ownership in the middle of a calendar quarter will be charged a proportion of the quarterly sewer use charge. The property owners will be charged for the period of time actually connected during that calendar quarter of service. The charges shall be prorated on a monthly basis. A full month will be charged if change of ownership occurs before the 10th day of the month.
A. 
A sewer use charge is due and payable for all connected properties regardless of whether the building is unoccupied or occupied.
B. 
There shall be no abatement of sewer use charges imposed by this chapter unless the property for which abatement has been requested has been physically disconnected from the sewer system in a manner satisfactory to the Authority. The Authority must be notified in advance and physically inspect the disconnection.
C. 
The Authority may waive sewer use charges where municipal or county officials declare a building or property uninhabitable. It is the owner's responsibility to provide written evidence of the municipal or county action.
D. 
Where the connected property is serviced by a public water company and the company has shut off the water supply, or where a private company services the connected property well and the electric company has terminated electrical service, sewer use charges will be waived. It is the owner's responsibility to obtain and supply to the Authority written confirmation from the water or electricity supplier that the service has been terminated.
The Authority reserves the right to come upon and enter the premises of any person connected to the system for the purpose of inspecting the sewer facilities located thereon and for the purpose of determining compliance with the rules and regulations of the Authority.
A. 
Any duly authorized employee or agent of the Authority bearing credentials which identify him or her shall be permitted at any reasonable time to enter upon all properties served by the public sanitary sewage system for the purpose of inspecting, observing, measuring, sampling and testing, as may be required in pursuance of the implementation and enforcement of the terms and provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Any records of monitoring activities or results maintained by any user shall be made available for inspection and copying by the Authority and/or the DEP and/or the EPA. Users may be required by the Authority to install monitoring equipment.
C. 
In the event that the Authority's duly authorized representatives are denied access to any customer's premises for these purposes, the Authority reserves the right to discontinue sewer service to such premises until inspection is permitted and compliance with requirements of the Authority has been determined.
Whenever the connection of an improved property to the sewer system has been improperly made or whenever there has been a violation of the rules and regulations of the Authority, the Authority will charge a fine upon conviction of $200 for each day the improved property is improperly connected to the sewer system or otherwise in violation of the rules and regulations.
This chapter and all other rules and regulations hereunder shall become effective January 1, 2002, and shall be applicable to all properties as soon as they become physically connected to and have the right to use the public sanitary sewer system.