[R.O. 2011 §29-23; Ord. No. 2945 §1, 5-4-1999]
It is determined and declared to be necessary and conductive to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare and convenience of the City to collect charges from all users who contribute wastewater to the City's treatment works. The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operating and maintaining public wastewater treatment works.
[R.O. 2011 §29-24; Ord. No. 2945 §2, 5-4-1999]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this Article shall be as follows:
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (B.O.D.)
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures in a period of five (5) days at a temperature of twenty degrees Centigrade (20°C), expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l). Such B.O.D. shall be determined as described under the heading "biochemical oxygen demand" in the Standard Methods of the Examination of Water and Wastewater (latest edition) as published jointly by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
CITY
The incorporate municipality enacting this Article.
COMMERCIAL USER
Any person, firm, partnership or corporation occupying any building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is for engaging in commerce or trade and having a financial profit as the primary aim. Provided however, that schools shall be considered as a "commercial user".
INDUSTRIAL USER
Any non-governmental user of the City's wastewater works that discharges wastes other than primarily domestic wastes or wastes from sanitary convenience.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.
NORMAL DOMESTIC WASTES
Any wastes having a five (5) day BOD concentration not in excess of two hundred five (205) mg/l or a suspended solids concentration not in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/l.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
All expenditures during the useful life of the treatment works for materials, labor, utilities, and other items which are necessary for managing and maintaining the sewage works to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
REPLACEMENT
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories, or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" includes replacement.
RESIDENTIAL USER
Any person occupying any building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is for domestic dwelling purposes for any person.
SHALL
Is mandatory; MAY: Is permissive.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
TOXIC WASTES
Any waste which is deleterious to treatment plant operation or to sludge utilization, which constitutes a hazard to humans or animals, or which will create a hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
TREATMENT WORKS
Any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage, or liquid industrial wastes. These include intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, individual systems, pumping, power, and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions improvements, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clear well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the land, that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment (including land for composting sludge, temporary storage of such compost, and land used for the storage of treated wastewater in land treatment systems before land application); or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating, or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
USEFUL LIFE
The estimated period during which a treatment works will be operated.
USER CHARGE
That portion of the total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance, and replacement of the wastewater treatment works.
WATER METER
A water volume measuring and recording device furnished and/or installed by the City or furnished and/or installed by a user and approved by the City.
[R.O. 2011 §29-25; Ord. No. 2945 §3, 5-4-1999]
A. 
The City of Salem, Missouri shall collect sewer service charges for the use of land and the services rendered by said sanitary sewer system from the owners or occupants of each residence, building or structure which is connected with the sanitary sewer system of the City of which discharge sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly, into the sanitary sewer system of the City.
B. 
Except as herein otherwise provided, sewer service charge shall be based on the quantity of water used on or in the property or premises subject to such charges; shall be computed by applying the rates herein established; and shall be payable as herein provided.
[R.O. 2011 §29-26; Ord. No. 2945 §4, 5-4-1999]
A. 
Except as otherwise herein provided, service charges shall be based on one (1) of the following:
1. 
On the quantity of water used from any source or sources of supply, as measured by a water meter or meters acceptable to the City.
2. 
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City and measured by a sewage meter acceptable to the City.
3. 
On the quantity of water as determined by the City or other authorized representative of the City through a study of the particular service.
4. 
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City as determined by the City or other authorized representative of the City through a study of the particular service.
B. 
Installation Of Water Sewage Meters. Where installed, all water or sewage meters shall be maintained by the owner, at his/her expense, in continuous efficient operation at all times. The readings of any such meter which, in the opinion of the City, has not been so maintained will be disregarded and the City or its authorized representative shall determine the sewage volume delivered to the sanitary system of the City during the time covered by discredited meter readings.
[R.O. 2011 §29-27; Ord. No. 2945 §5, 5-4-1999]
A. 
All users, other than residential users, shall be billed on the basis of all monthly water usage as determined by monthly water meter readings.
B. 
The rates and charges established by this Article shall be applied to the water consumption billed after this Article shall have been placed in effect except as herein otherwise provided. In order that there be the least sewer service charge to residential water consumers for water used to maintain lawns, gardens, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc., water usage shall be derived from water consumption recorded in periods when such activities are reduced.
C. 
The basis of residential bills shall be the average monthly water consumption for the months of January, February, and March, or the average consumption for any such months during which water was used, except as herein otherwise provided. In computing the average monthly water consumption, the meter readings taken between January and March shall be used. The average monthly water consumption so computed for a residence shall be the water usage and the basis for sewer service charge billings rendered during the twelve (12) months following the meter reading date in the month of July.
D. 
In cases where a residence first becomes subject, after the meter reading date in July, to the sewage service charges established herein and no water meter readings were taken before such date, the owner or occupant of such residence shall be billed on the basis of the average residential usage.
E. 
Averages resulting in a fraction of one-half (½) or greater of one hundred (100) gallons shall be raised to the next whole number of one hundred (100) gallons in computing average monthly water consumption or averages of monthly water consumption.
[R.O. 2011 §29-28; Ord. No. 2945 §6, 5-4-1999]
The user charge system shall generate adequate annual revenues to pay cost of annual operation and maintenance including replacement which the City may by ordinance designate to be paid by the user charge system. That portion of the total user charge which is designated for operation and maintenance including replacement of the treatment works shall be established by this Article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 710.350, Rate Schedule, adopted by R.O. 2011 §29-29; as amended by Ord. No. 3170 §1, 6-30-2009; Ord. No. 3171 §1, 7-6-2009; Ord. No. 3290 §2, 6-16-2015; Ord. No. 3333 § 2, 7-10-2017; and Ord. No. 3392, 7-30-2018, was repealed by Ord. No. 3612, 7-9-2024. See now Section 700.230, Sewer Rates.
[R.O. 2011 §29-30; Ord. No. 2945 §8 (Appendix "A"), 5-4-1999]
A. 
In order that the rates and charges may be justly and equitably adjusted to the service rendered, the City shall have the right to base its charges not only on volume but also on the strength and character of sewage and wastes which it is required to treat and dispose of. The City shall have the right to measure and determine the strength and content of all sewage and wastes discharged, either directly or indirectly, into the City's sanitary sewage system in such a manner and by such method as it may deem practicable in the light of the conditions and attending circumstances of the case in order to determine the proper charge.
1. 
Extra charges for discharge of excess BOD. Any customer who discharges sewage having a BOD concentration in excess of two hundred five (205) mg/l shall pay an additional charge based on the schedule below: (Appendix "A", Option 1)
a. 
B.O.D. — $0.21 per pound.
2. 
Extra charges for discharge of excess suspended solids. Any customer who discharges sewage having a suspended solids concentration in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/l shall pay an additional charge based on the schedule below: (Appendix "A", Option 1)
a. 
Suspended Solids (S.S.) — $0.04 per pound.
3. 
Extra charges for discharge of toxic substances. Any customer who discharges a toxic substance which is deleterious to the treatment process or to sludge utilization shall be liable for all costs incurred by the City in returning the treatment process or sludge to its proper condition. Such extra charges shall be determined by the treatment plant operator subject to review and approval by the Board of Aldermen and shall include, but not be limited to, costs of labor, chemicals and equipment directly used in correcting the toxic conditions.
[R.O. 2011 §29-31; Ord. No. 2945 §9, 5-4-1999]
All sewer service charges established by this Article shall be a part of, but noted as a separate item on the water bill of each user and shall be billed, collected and become delinquent at the same time and in the same manner as such water bill. Any user of the City sewer system who is delinquent in the payment of the water usage charge provided herein shall be deemed to be delinquent in the payment of the sewer bill and shall be subject to being disconnected from the sewer system in the same manner and at the same time as provided in other ordinances for disconnection from the water system. No person who has been disconnected from the sewer system shall be again connected thereto until he/she has paid to the City all delinquent water and sewer bills in full together with the reconnect charge as specified in Appendix "A". Disconnection shall be by removal of the water meter or physical blockage or disconnection of the building sewer service line.
[R.O. 2011 §29-32; Ord. No. 2945 §10, 5-4-1999]
When it appears that an inequity has occurred, the City or its designated agent may submit a report to the circumstances and make recommendations for adjustments of sewer service charges to the Board of Aldermen. Any recommendations for adjustments must be approved by said Board before such adjustment shall be effective.
[R.O. 2011 §29-33; Ord. No. 2945 §11, 5-4-1999]
The elected officials of the City and other duly authorized employees of said City bearing identification and written credentials shall, at reasonable times, be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
[R.O. 2011 §29-34; Ord. No. 2945 §12 (Appendix "C"), 5-4-1999]
A. 
The accounting system for the provisions of this Article shall be as previously established entitled "Sewer Fund".
1. 
All monies collected under the authority of this Article for operation and maintenance shall be accrued to the "Sewer Fund Service" account.
2. 
All expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance of the sewer system shall be charged to the "Sewer Fund Expenditures" account. Each of the operating expense accounts shall be separated to account for the sewer system expenses.
3. 
A "Sewer System Replacement" account shall be established to provide for replacement of major items of sewer system equipment as their useful life expires. Replacement account expenditures shall be restricted to obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the service life of the treatment works including pumping stations to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. A minimum of twenty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-one dollars ($29,991.00) per year from the revenue collected shall be accumulated to this account. Appendix "C" indicates the method of determining the "Sewer System Replacement Fund" account.
4. 
Monies accrued from the rate schedule and extra charges for operation and maintenance shall be disbursed only for the needs of the sewer system. Any monies transferred into these accounts from other revenue sources and used for operational expenditures shall be returned to their original account through operating efficiency expense reduction or adjustment to the rate schedule.
Any excess monies in the sewer system accounts at the end of each fiscal year shall be carried forward and not transferred to other funds.
[R.O. 2011 §29-35; Ord. No. 2945 §13 (Appendix "B"), 5-4-1999]
A. 
At the end of each fiscal year, the balances in the sewer funds shall be reviewed to insure adequate and equitable rate schedules for the following year.
B. 
Any operation and maintenance fund balance carried forward shall be identified by class and credited to the budgeted sewer system expenses for the following year.
C. 
The rate schedule adopted for any fiscal year shall be adequate to insure adequate operation and maintenance funds, and to maintain a sufficient replacement fund to cover costs of anticipated major equipment replacements and to insure that all customers pay their proportional share of the costs of operating and maintaining the sewer system. The City shall notify each user annually, in conjunction with a regular billing, of the rates and that portion charged for operation and maintenance of the sewer system.
D. 
Appendix "B" is the method to be used in calculating the rates for operation and maintenance.
[R.O. 2011 §29-36; Ord. No. 2945 §14, 5-4-1999]
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
[R.O. 2011 §29-37; Ord. No. 2945 §15, 5-4-1999]
If any Section, Subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Article is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.