(a) 
Effective October 1, 2021, the city, through the city manager, shall charge and collect from every customer and every customer shall pay a monthly base charge for wastewater service which shall be billed to all customers based upon the water meter size as follows:
Meter Size
Wastewater Base Charge
No meter - Commercial
$62.65
Three-quarter inch (3/4") meter
$16.55
One inch (1") meter and no meter residential
$20.17
One and a half inch (1.5") meter
$29.15
Two inch (2") meter
$39.97
Three inch (3") meter
$65.24
Four inch (4") meter
$101.29
Six inch (6") meter
$191.44
Eight inch (8") meter
$299.59
Ten inch (10") meter
$425.82
(b) 
Effective December 1, 2017, in addition to the base charge, the city, through the city manager, shall determine the volume of wastewater flow produced by each customer as described herein and each customer shall pay the wastewater volume rate per one thousand (1,000) gallons, which shall be as follows:
Flow rate: $3.71
The volume of wastewater flow produced by a single family residential customer and customers not required to meter as provided in section 22.04.042 of the Code of Ordinances of the city shall be determined by calculating the average water volume used as measured by the non-irrigation meter readings for the months of November, December, January, and February. This volume shall be defined as the history based consumption (HBC), and it shall be updated for billing purposes in March of each year. In the event a residential customer or premises (i.e., a new premises or a residential premise with no meter) does not have a water consumption history for such months, a water volume of 7,000 gallons per month shall be utilized as the HBC by default. If the volume of water used drops below the HBC volume, the lesser volume shall be used for determining the volume used for single-family residential customers in the calculation of the monthly bill for services rendered. If the volume of water exceeds the HBC volume, the HBC volume shall be used for determining the volume used for single-family residential customers in the calculation of the monthly bill for services rendered. The volume of wastewater flow produced by other customers shall be determined as provided for in section 22.04.042 of the Code of Ordinances of the city.
(c) 
Surcharge.
Sewer customers or others discharging wastes to the sanitary sewer system which do not exceed the limits established in section 22.04.084 and which do not exhibit any of the characteristics of wastes prohibited by sections 22.04.083 and 22.04.085 but have concentration(s) in excess of “normal domestic sewage,” shall pretreat the wastes to meet the concentrations of “normal domestic sewage”; however, such excessive BOD and TSS wastes may be accepted for treatment if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) 
The wastes will not cause damage to the wastewater collection system;
(2) 
The wastes will not impair the city’s treatment process;
(3) 
The wastes will not cause contamination of POTW sludges thus limiting sludge disposal options or practices;
(4) 
The person(s) or owner(s) responsible for the wastes pays a surcharge, in addition to the regular water and sewer rates, in accordance with the following cost factors and formula:
V
=
Volume reported in millions of gallons (MG)
BOD
=
Biochemical oxygen demand analyzed in accordance with the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” or the latest EPA-approved method, and reported inunits of milligrams per liter (mg/l).
TSS
=
Total suspended solids analyzed in accordance with the latest editionof “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water andWastewater,” or the latest EPA-approved method, and reported inunits of milligrams per liter (mg/l).
Cost Factor BOD
=
55% of the total budgeted costs for operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment facilities divided by total pounds BOD treated.
Cost Factor TSS
=
45% of the total budgeted costs for operating and maintaining thewastewater treatment facilities divided by total pounds TSS treated.
Surcharge
=
Surcharge computed in dollars as follows:
BOD Surcharge
=
V x (B - C) x 8.34 x Cost Factor BOD
TSS Surcharge
=
V x (B - C) x 8.34 x Cost Factor TSS
Where:
B
=
Total contribution from user (mg/l).
C
=
Normal domestic sewage strength (two hundred fifty (250) mg/l).
8.34
=
Pounds per gallon of water (conversion).
(d) 
The surcharge rate for sewer service as shown in subsection (c) shall be determined each year following city council approval of the annual operations budget. The surcharge rate shall be examined by the city manager, or his designee, and such adjustments shall be made to the sewer surcharge rate on October 1 of each year.
(e) 
The provision of wastewater collection and treatment services to individuals, businesses, agencies or organizations that lie outside the corporate limits of the City of Lubbock is prohibited. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the provision of such wastewater services to federal, state or local governments, governmental agencies or governmental subdivisions pursuant to appropriate intergovernmental contracts. Neither should this section be construed to prohibit the provision of wastewater service to city-owned property and/or facilities located thereon regardless of whether such facilities are located inside or outside of the boundaries of the City of Lubbock.
(f) 
The following wastewater volume rate shall be applicable for those federal, state or local governments, governmental agencies or governmental subdivisions that are authorized to acquire wastewater services by city ordinance and enter into contracts with the city for wholesale purchases. Solely for the purposes of wholesale customers, the wastewater volume rate shall be 1.27 times the wastewater volume rate for all other customers as set forth above. The rates prescribed herein for wholesale customers reflect the increased cost of service by the city for such customers, including without limitation, costs related to wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and remote metering and service issues, standby wastewater capacity, and the impact of advancing the timing of wastewater projects to meet additional wastewater demands from wholesale customers.
(g) 
Nothing contained herein, absent agreement otherwise by the wholesale customer, shall affect existing valid and subsisting wholesale contracts by and between the city and wholesale customers. Any renewal or extension of such contract, other than renewals and extensions that may be exercised unilaterally by the wholesale customer, shall provide for the rates prescribed in this section.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-86; Ordinance 9294, sec. 1, adopted 8/10/1989; Ordinance 9473, sec. 1, adopted 8/22/1991; Ordinance 9733, sec. 1, adopted 9/8/1994; Ordinance 9802, sec. 7, adopted 5/11/1995; Ordinance 9932, sec. 1, adopted 8/22/1996; Ordinance 10182, sec. 1, adopted 8/26/1999; Ordinance 2001-O0077, sec. 1, adopted 9/13/2001; Ordinance 2002-O0098, sec. 1, adopted 9/17/2002; Ordinance 2005-O0114, sec. 1, adopted 10/13/2005; Ordinance 2007-O0011, sec. 1, adopted 1/25/2007; Ordinance 2008-O0019, sec. 1, adopted 2/28/2008; Ordinance 2009-O0019, sec. 1, adopted 3/9/2009; Ordinance 2009-O0027, sec. 2, adopted 4/9/2009; Ordinance 2010-O0070, sec. 19, adopted 9/16/2010; Ordinance 2011-O0080, sec. 18, adopted 9/8/2011; Ordinance 2012-O0100, sec. 17, adopted 9/13/2012; Ordinance 2014-O0151, sec. 3, adopted 11/6/2014; Ordinance 2015-O0094, secs. 15–16, adopted 9/10/2015; Ordinance 2016-O0114, sec. 1, adopted 8/11/2016; Ordinance 2016-O0139, sec. 1, adopted 9/22/2016; Ordinance 2016-O0181 adopted 12/15/2016; Ordinance 2017-O0111, sec. 14, adopted 9/14/2017; Ordinance 2018-O0109, sec. 15, adopted 9/13/2018; Ordinance 2020-O0123, sec. 13, adopted 9/8/2020; Ordinance 2021-O0126, sec. 16, adopted 9/14/2021)
It shall be the responsibility of all the commercial or industrial users to provide an approved metering device for the sewage flow or metering for the private water supplier to determine the quantity discharged. In the event the metering measurement is not provided, sewer service shall be determined and assessed by the city until such a measuring device is provided. Measuring devices shall be installed by the user within ninety (90) days of official notice from the city.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-87; Ordinance 9294, sec. 1, adopted 8/10/1989)
It shall be the responsibility of all the commercial and/or industrial users with in-plant, in-process, or in-product water losses to provide an approved metering device to determine the quantity of sewage discharged. Such metering devices, quantities, and exemptions claimed shall be approved by the director of water utilities prior to incorporation into the billing process. In the event the metering measurement is not provided, the service charge shall be determined and assessed by the city until such a measuring device is provided. Measuring devices shall be installed by the user, and at the user’s expense, within ninety (90) days of official notice from the city.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-88; Ordinance 9294, sec. 1, adopted 8/10/1989; Ordinance 2014-O0151, sec. 4, adopted 11/6/2014)
In the event any person, firm or institution presently connected with city water and or sewer service fails or refuses to pay the assessed sewer charge, which shall include, without limitation, those charges prescribed in section 22.04.046 and section 22.04.047 of this article, within fifteen (15) days after due date, water and sewer service shall be discontinued at the premises assessed and not be renewed until payment of the assessed charges plus the conditions and charges for reestablishment of water service as provided in section 22.03.095 of this chapter is made.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-89; Ordinance 9294, sec. 1, adopted 8/10/1989; Ordinance 2014-O0151, sec. 5, adopted 11/6/2014)
(a) 
The customer shall select a city-approved utility contractor to connect lateral sewer connections for residential and commercial land uses. The utility contractor shall be registered with the city's engineering department and shall have a current wastewater collection operator license with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or be a licensed plumber within the State of Texas.
(b) 
Construction of the sewer lateral connection shall conform to the City of Lubbock Engineering Minimum Design Standards and Specifications.
(c) 
The customer or the customer’s contractor shall acquire the proper permits and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, and policies for the maintenance, repair and operation of this lateral line. Physical obstructions in the city’s right-of-way, such as landscaping, irrigation systems, fencing, or other such surface or subsurface obstructions may potentially be damaged by excavation activity. The contractor, at its discretion, may proceed with installing, repairing, or replacing the sewer tap or lateral service line located in the city right-of-way, through or past the obstruction. The repair or replacement of any obstructions placed in the easement or right-of-way, by the property owner or occupant of the facility being served, or any individual, is the sole responsibility of said owner or occupant.
(d) 
The utility contractor shall notify the appropriate city staff at least 48 hours prior to construction and within 72 hours of the completion of construction. The city will issue a notice of completion within 72 hours of the contractor notifying the city. Then, the customer can request and pay the appropriate fee for the desired size water meter.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-90; Ordinance 9411, sec. 9, adopted 2/14/1991; Ordinance 9725, sec. 2, adopted 9/8/1994; Ordinance 2010-O0049, sec. 19, adopted 6/24/2010; Ordinance 2019-O0129, sec. 14, adopted 9/10/2019; Ordinance 2021-O0126, sec. 17, adopted 9/14/2021; Ordinance 2021-O0168 adopted 12/14/2021; Ordinance 2023-O0119 adopted 10/10/2023)
(a) 
In the event any person, firm, or institution connected to the city sanitary sewer system is determined to be the cause of obstruction of the city’s sanitary sewer line, the person, firm, or institution responsible shall be assessed a charge no less than the sum of the costs of the personnel and equipment used to unblock the sewer line, and the cost of the personnel to clean the sanitary sewer line. Nonpayment of these charges may result in discontinuance of water and/or sewer service as per section 22.03.095 and section 22.04.044 of this article.
(b) 
Any person, firm, or institution deemed to have violated this provision shall be provided notice at the address to which the monthly sewer charge is billed, informing the addressee of the violation and the charge associated with such violation, and providing the addressee not less than ten (10) days opportunity to contest the validity of such charge. In the event the validity of the charge is not contested by the addressee, or it is determined by the director of water utilities that such charge is valid, such charge shall become part of the “assessed sewer charge” as per section 22.04.044 of this article. Any charges assessed under subsection (a) above may be contested by the person, firm, or institution assessed the charges within ten (10) days of the assessment.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-91; Ordinance 9411, sec. 10, adopted 2/14/1991; Ordinance 9802, sec. 8, adopted 5/11/1995; Ordinance 2014-O0151, sec. 6, adopted 11/6/2014)
(a) 
In the event that any person, firm or institution causes wastewater to be spilled into any storm sewer or natural water outlet, the person, firm or institution responsible shall be assessed a charge no less than the sum of the costs of the city’s personnel responding to the spill and coordinating clean-up efforts, and the equipment, personnel and chemicals necessary to clean the wastewater spillage. Nonpayment of these charges may result in discontinuance of water and/or sewer service as per section 22.03.095 and section 22.04.044 of this article.
(b) 
Any person, firm, or institution deemed to have violated this provision shall be provided notice at the address to which the monthly sewer charge is billed, informing the addressee of the violation and the charge associated with such violation, and providing the addressee not less than ten (10) days opportunity to contest the validity of such charge. In the event the validity of the charge is not contested by the addressee, or it is determined by the director of water utilities that such charge is valid, such charge shall become part of the “assessed sewer charge” as per section 22.04.044 of this article. Any charges assessed under subsection (a) above may be contested by the person, firm, or institution assessed the charges within ten (10) days of the assessment.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-92; Ordinance 9411, sec. 11, adopted 2/14/1991; Ordinance 9802, sec. 9, adopted 5/11/1995; Ordinance 2014-O0151, sec. 7, adopted 11/6/2014)
(a) 
All bills for sewer service shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days after issuance. A penalty of five (5) percent shall be charged to any person, firm or institution that fails to pay his bill after fifteen (15) days from issuance. The five-percent late payment penalty shall apply to all classes of consumers served.
(b) 
As used in this section, date of issuance shall mean the date when a bill is placed in the United States mail, properly addressed to the person, firm or institution.
(1983 Code, sec. 28-93; Ordinance 2000-O0066, sec. 1, adopted 4/12/2001)