[Amended 11-27-1995 by Ord. No. 1,165, effective 12-31-1995; 3-15-2004 by Ord. No. 1,319, effective 4-4-2004; 3-21-2005 by Ord. No. 1,336, effective 4-10-2005; 3-20-2006 by Ord. No. 1,347, effective 4-9-2006; 12-18-2006 by Ord. No. 1,368, effective 1-7-2007; 10-7-2019 by Ord. No. 11-19, effective 10-28-2019; 2-3-2020 by Ord. No. 1-20, effective 2-24-2020; 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 9-20, effective 9-7-2020; 2-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2-21, effective 2-22-2021; 2-7-2022 by Ord. No. 1-22, effective 2-27-2022; 1-17-2023 by Ord. No. 1-23, effective 2-6-2023; 2-20-2024 by Ord. No. 1-24, effective 3-11-2024; 1-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1-25, effective 2-10-2025; 1-20-2026 by Ord. No. 1-26, eff. 2-9-2026]
The following rates and charges shall be made by the Department of Public Works and Utilities:
A. 
Tapping for service connections.
(1) 
An applicant for a water tap shall give the Department of Public Works and Utilities at least 48 hours' notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, before any tap is made.
(2) 
Where an applicant is required to perform work in connection with a permit for road opening, such as road excavation work, tubing, curb stop, curb box, backfilling and paving, the work shall be done by the applicant but will be subject to inspection by the Department of Public Works and Utilities. The street opening, tapping, backfilling and paving will be done by the applicant. In such cases, the applicant shall submit a proposal and obtain approval from the Department of Public Works and Utilities. In addition, the applicant shall provide the Department a minimum of 48 hours' advance notice before commencing roadway excavation.
B. 
Wet taps.
(1) 
All wet taps shall be installed by the applicant. Wet tapping sleeves, valves and valve boxes shall be provided and installed by the applicant. All materials and workmanship shall meet American Water Works Association standards and are subject to inspection and approval by the Department of Public Works and Utilities.
(2) 
All permits must be obtained and fees must be paid by the applicant before beginning work.
(3) 
An inspection fee of $50 shall be charged for each installation, and a fee of $50 shall be charged for each and every inspection as required.
C. 
Charges for setting and installing a meter in new residential or commercial property.
(1) 
The applicant shall pay for the cost of a meter, which shall be the market price of the meter at the time of installation.
(2) 
In addition, the applicant shall pay an installation fee in the amount of $50 during normal business hours and $100 after normal business hours.
D. 
Charges of rates for water consumption:
(1) 
The following rates are hereby established:
Consumption Charges
Quarterly Water Rates
Meter Size (inches)
Minimum Charge
Allowed Usage (gallons)
Usage Charge (per 1,000 gallons)
Applied To (gallons)
0.75
$50.19
5,000
$12.96
5,001 to 100,000
1.00
$119.44
13,000
$12.96
13,001 to 100,000
1.50
$164.67
17,700
$12.96
17,701 to 100,000
2.00
$240.91
25,700
$12.96
25,701 to 100,000
3.00
$381.42
41,000
$12.96
41,001 to 100,000
4.00
$652.41
70,000
$12.96
70,001 to 100,000
6.00
$1,005.55
85,000
$12.96
85,001 to 100,000
8.00
$1,433.79
100,000
$12.96
100,001
(a) 
All gallonage in excess of 100,000 gallons shall be billed at $12.96 per 1,000 gallons.
(2) 
User application procedures and charges for use outside the Borough:
(a) 
Administrative and maintenance fixed at 10% of the fee which relates to water consumption and which will be determined by using the rates established by Borough ordinance.
(b) 
There shall be a minimum rate of $50 per quarter for all unmetered water customers.
E. 
Sprinkler and hydrant charges.
(1) 
There shall be a private hydrant standby charge in the sum of $180 per year, payable quarterly.
(2) 
The quarterly sprinkler standby charges, with hose or hydrant connections, shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
Size of Service
(inches)
Charge per Quarter
3
$145.20
4
$228.00
6
$448.00
8
$660.00
10
$828.00
(3) 
The quarterly sprinkler standby charges, without hose or hydrant connections, shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
Size of Service
(inches)
Charge per Quarter
3
$129.60
4
$190.80
6
$303.60
8
$417.60
10
$531.60
(4) 
Sprinkler inspection charge for all commercial/industrial users is $146, paid at the time of issuance of the permit to connect.
(5) 
No water shall be used through sprinkler connections or hydrants, except for test or in case of fire, without the consent of the Borough of Lincoln Park. For hydrant use other than for testing or in case of fire, there shall be a charge of $100, together with all applicable water consumption charges.
F. 
Turn-on and turn-off charges.
(1) 
An applicant shall pay a fee of $25 to turn on water service to a preexisting system during normal business hours.
(2) 
An applicant shall pay a fee of $25 to turn off water service to a prexisting system during normal business hours.
(3) 
An applicant shall pay a fee of $100 to turn on water after normal business hours.
(4) 
An applicant shall pay a fee of $100 to turn off water after normal business hours.
(5) 
The Lincoln Board of Education shall be exempt from paying a turn-on and turn-off fee at all times.
G. 
Shut-off charge. There shall be a charge of $25 for turning off of water to any premises.
H. 
Amending rates. The rates herein established may be altered, changed or modified or new rates established, as the Borough may, by ordinance, from time to time, determine, provided that such rates shall always be sufficient to pay for all fixed and operating costs of the Department.
I. 
Advance payments. The governing body may require payment in advance for the use or rent of water furnished by it and for any work to be done or materials to be furnished.
J. 
Final bill fee: $25. Request for a final bill needs to be sent to the Department in writing at least three business days before the request appointment date.
A. 
For the purpose of making and collecting charges for Borough water used by the consumer, the calendar year shall be subdivided and designated as follows: the year period shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31; the quarterly periods shall begin on the first days of January, April, July and October, respectively, and shall extend to the beginning of the succeeding quarterly period.
B. 
Under ordinary circumstances and conditions, continuous service meters shall be read on or about the first day of the beginning of a new quarter. Meters installed for miscellaneous service may be read at the discretion of the Department of Public Works and Utilities.
Unless the applicant for water service specifies otherwise, the bills will be mailed or delivered to the premises where water service is furnished. If the applicant so desires, the Department will mail or deliver the bills to the business or home address of the applicant or his agent. Failure to receive bills or notices is no excuse for nonpayment of water bills.
[Amended 10-20-1996 by Ord. No. 1,185, effective 11-4-1996; 2-17-2026 by Ord. No. 3-26, eff. 3-10-2026]
All charges for water are a lien upon the premises or property on account of which the charge is incurred until paid and satisfied. All bills not paid within 10 days of the due date shall be charged an interest at the rate of 8% per annum for the first $1,500 delinquency and 18% per annum on any amount exceeding $1,500, calculated from the due date of the bill to the date of the actual payment. Statutory rights of collection, as provided by statute, are reserved to the Borough.
Charges for water supplied at meter rates for any quarterly period or fractional part thereof will be dated on the last day of such period or on the day when the water is turned off and are due and payable on the day when dated. Where water is supplied at meter rates, all the water registered by the meter will be charged for, and no deduction will be made for leaks.
Where water is furnished by a meter, the quantity recorded by it shall be taken to be the amount passing the meter, except where the meter has been found to be registering inaccurately or has ceased to register. In such cases, the quantity may be determined by the average registration of the meter when in order or by such fair and reasonable method as shall be based on the best information obtainable. In the event that the meter reader cannot gain access to the premises for any reading, the water bill for the period shall be estimated by the Department of Public Works and Utilities. In the event that estimated billings are rendered for three or more successive quarters, the installation of a remote register, added to an existing meter, shall be mandatory at an installation charge as stated in § 461-31C.