A.
The Town of Bedford has developed and is implementing a program for
the construction and operation of wastewater treatment facilities.
A regional treatment plant and pumping station have been constructed
by the City of Manchester and a system of interceptor sewers has been
partially completed by the Town of Bedford. Under the requirements
of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit issued
to the Town of Bedford by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, the treatment and disposal works became partially operational
on April 1, 1984. Under the requirements of said permit, the Town
is proceeding with the completion of said program.
B.
The purpose of this article is to ensure that all persons whose mains
enter main drains, common sewers, and treatment facilities and all
persons whose lands receive or will receive a special benefit from
said wastewater treatment facilities shall pay their just share of
the costs of said facilities as hereinafter provided.
C.
An additional purpose of this article is to comply with the user
charge requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Act Amendments
of 1972 (PL 92-500), the Clean Water Act of 1977 (PL 95-217), and
amendments thereto.
Pursuant to RSA 149-1 and the current intermunicipal agreement, and amendment thereof, between the Town of Bedford and the City of Manchester for wastewater service, a system of sewer rental charges is hereby established, under the authority given at § 212-3, and assessed for paying the cost of construction, payment of interest on debt incurred, management, maintenance, replacement, operation, and repair of the Town's sewer system and appurtenant structures, as well as the Town's share of the City's wastewater treatment facilities. Said sewer rental charges shall consist of a service charge and a sewer user charge.
Sewer rental charges for residential premises, commercial establishments,
and industrial establishments shall be paid by the owner of any such
structure containing one or more dwelling units, commercial establishments,
or industrial establishments from which structure sewage discharges
into the Town sewer system.
A.
Payable by owner. Service charges shall be payable by the owner of
the real estate, whether or not the premises are occupied. All service
charges shall be at rates provided herein.
B.
Multiple-dwellings units. In the case of structures containing multiple-dwelling
units, or any combination of dwelling units, commercial establishments,
or industrial establishments, a separate service charge shall be payable
for each dwelling unit, commercial, and industrial establishment.
User charges for residential and commercial premises shall be
based on the consumption of water on premises connected with the Town
sewer system.
A.
Computation of charges. In computing charges under the user charge
formula for residential and commercial users, biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) and suspended solids (SS) content are fixed at 250 mg/l.
B.
Basis of charges. User charges are based on the volume and strength
of wastewater discharged by users.
C.
Measurements of BOD and SS content. Strength shall be determined
from the BOD and SS content of the wastewater as determined by periodic
composite sampling by the Town.
D.
Samplings. Said periodic composite sampling shall be conducted by
or under the supervision of the Chief Sanitary Engineer of the City
of Manchester, as an authorized representative to the Town, to an
extent that will permit a reasonable determination of BOD and SS.
B.
Application for sewer permit. In either case, the owner or his agent
shall make application on a special form furnished by the Town. The
application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or
other information considered pertinent in the judgement of the Town.
C.
Charges due at application. A permit and appropriate connection charge,
as determined by the Town Council, for any building sewer connection
permit shall be paid to the Town of Bedford at the time the application
is filed.
D.
Proposed building sewers.
(1)
Building sewers proposed in new building areas, such as in subdivisions
and in commercial and industrial areas, shall conform to these requirements.
(2)
All costs associated with the design, design review by the Town,
and construction shall be borne by the builder, developer, and/or
owner.
(3)
The Town may take over ownership and operation of the sewer
system in an accepted street once the system is in operation.
(4)
All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection
of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall
indemnify the Town from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly
be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
Charges on metered and nonmetered residential and commercial
users and sewer connection charges are adopted by resolution of the
Town Council from time to time and are on file in the Clerk's
office.
The funds received from the collection of sewer rental charges
shall be kept as a separate and distinct fund which shall be known
as the "Sewer Fund." Any surplus in such fund may, as determined by
the Town Council, be used for the enlargement or replacement of the
wastewater treatment facilities. Such sewer rental charges may be
used to pay previous expansion or improvements of wastewater treatment
facilities.
Billing periods for sewer rental charges shall correspond with
billing periods of the Manchester Water Works for the same customers.
Bills shall be itemized and shall specify a due date which shall be
no less than 25 days from the date when bills are mailed.
All bills shall be payable on or before the due date specified
in the bill. Interest shall be charged at 12% per annum on all bills
not paid by the due date. The Town Council shall review and adjust
the requirements and charges of the sewer rental charge system on
an as-needed basis.
