Sewer service charges for the use of the public sewage works
shall be based upon the actual use of such system, or contractual
obligation for a level of use in excess of current actual use, or
property value as permitted by federal law. The sewer service charges
shall be based on such factors which significantly affect the cost
of treatment in accordance with the City's approved user charge system.
The costs for operation and maintenance of the sewage works shall be shared by the municipalities of Gardner, Ashburnham, and Templeton in proportion to their actual use of the facilities as determined by actual measurement and analysis of each user's discharge in accordance with Article III or as otherwise agreed to in a signed intermunicipal agreement.
The following criteria shall be used in assessing sewer service
charges for users in Gardner:
A.
For users that discharge more than 25,000 gallons per day or the equivalent of 25,000 gallons per day of domestic sanitary sewage, the use of the City's sewage works shall be based upon actual measurement and analysis of each user's discharge in accordance with the provisions of Article III, to the extent such measurement and analysis are considered feasible by the Director. Where measurement of actual discharge is considered not feasible, determination of use of the facilities shall be based upon the quantity of water used, whether purchased from the public water utility or obtained from a private source. The Director, when determining actual use of the City's sewage works based on water use, shall consider consumptive, evaporative, or other use of water which results in a significant difference between a discharger's water use and discharge. Where appropriate, such consumptive water use may be metered to aid in determining actual use of the sewage works.
B.
For tax-exempt users, sewer service charges shall be based upon the
water used, whether purchased from the public water utility or obtained
from a private source. Tax-exempt users with septic tanks will be
assessed a seepage dumping fee.
C.
For users not included in the above categories, charges for the use
of sewer works shall be based upon assessed valuation of property.
Discharge of seepage from septic tanks located on properties
outside of the City of Gardner shall not be permitted.
Users of the City's sewage works shall also be assessed industrial
cost recovery charges as required by federal law.
