The city, as recipient of a federal grant for the upgrading and expansion of the wastewater treatment and transportation facility, is required to develop and enact a user charge system to fairly distribute the annual operation and maintenance costs of these facilities among all users and/or user classes.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 32, Sec. 32-53.1)
(a) 
General Terms.
As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand).
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation or organic matter under standard laboratory procedures in five (5) days at twenty (20) degrees Centigrade, expressed in parts per million by weight, or milligrams per liter (mg/1).
Conventional Pollutant.
Those pollutants that are generally biodegradable and readily handled within normal concentration ranges by conventional treatment processes. Conventional pollutants specifically include biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, fecal coliform, pH, and oil and grease.
Domestic Wastewater.
The liquid waste normally originating in quarters inhabited or frequented by human beings and may include human excreta, bath water, kitchen wastes (with or without properly shredded garbage) and laundry waste.
Industrial Users.
Any nongovernmental, nonresidential user of a publicly owned treatment works which discharges more than the equivalent of twenty-five thousand (25,000) gallons per day of sanitary wastes as defined in 40 CFR 35.905 of Federal Rules and Regulations.
Nonconventional Pollutants.
All other pollutants which are not specifically identified as either conventional or toxic and includes such pollutants as chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus, sulfates, chlorides, etc.
Nonresidential Customers.
All other customers receiving wastewater service and includes, but is not limited to, commercial establishments, churches, schools, nursing homes and hospitals.
Normal Wastewater Concentrations.
Wastewater having characteristics generally associated with typical domestic wastewater and shall have the following limits:
BOD (five (5) days at 20°C), maximum, mg/1
250
Chlorine demand (fifteen (15) minutes at 68°F), maximum, mg/1
25
Suspended solids, maximum, mg/1
250
Hydrogen ion concentration (pH)
5.0 to 9.0
Free oil and grease, maximum; mg/1
10
Grease, total, maximum, mg/1
100
Temperature, maximum
125°F
NHS-N, maximum, mg/1
30
Objectionable Pollutant.
Those toxic and nonconventional pollutants causing an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or sludge of the treatment waste. Suggested maximum limits for some objectionable pollutants are defined in the sewer use ordinance.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs.
Those costs associated with the necessary operational requirements of a wastewater treatment facility and collection system including replacement.
pH.
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in moles per liter of solution.
Prohibited Pollutants.
Any toxic or nonconventional pollutants that would cause problems in the adequate treatment of the wastewater and would be required to be removed prior to any discharge into the wastewater system.
Replacement.
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary to maintain the capacity and performance of the treatment works during its service life.
Residential Customers.
Those customers living in homes, apartments, town houses and trailers.
Sewer Superintendent.
The person duly designated by the governing authority to oversee and supervise the activities incident to the operation and maintenance of the sewage works, or his authorized deputy, agency or representative.
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 Pollutants.
Those pollutants which have been designated as toxic under Section 307 of the 1972 Clean Water Act, including all additions to the list.
User Charge.
A charge levied on users of a treatment works for the user’s proportionate share of the cost of operation and maintenance of such works.
(b) 
Other Terms.
Terms not otherwise defined herein shall be as adopted in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
(1974 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 32, Sec. 32-53.2)
(a) 
Customers with Normal Wastewater Concentrations.
All property upon which any building has been or may hereafter be erected having a connection with any mains or pipes which may be hereafter constructed and used in connection with the city wastewater system, shall pay monthly user charges, based on their water consumption according to rates as set by the city council and on file in the office of the city secretary.
(b) 
Wastewater Effluent Contributions Substantially Less Than Water Consumption.
Any user who can demonstrate that their wastewater effluent volume is substantially less than their water consumption will be entitled to an adjustment. The amount and method of determining the adjustment will be up to the discretion of the superintendent of sewers.
(c) 
Surcharge for Excessive Pollutant Concentrations.
(1) 
Determination.
The superintendent of sewers will be responsible for determining which users have sewage with excessive pollutant concentrations. Users who have effluent that exceeds normal loading are responsible for self-monitoring. The superintendent will determine the users who are liable for surcharges either by individual testing or by using industry standards. If a user disputes his surcharge, the burden of proof will be on the user to show that his effluent meets normal loading characteristics.
(2) 
Conventional Pollutants.
In the event that conventional pollutant concentrations from a user exceed the normal range of strength of normal wastewater a surcharge shall be levied. The use of such a surcharge would be necessary if a user discharging a wastewater has a higher range of strength, is located within the city, and desires to have wastewater treatment service. The surcharge would be by the following formula:
Cs = (Bc(b) + Sc(s)) x Vu
Where:
Cs
=
Surcharge for sewage of excessive strength.
Bc
=
O&M cost for treatment of a unit of BOD.
b
=
Concentration of BOD from a user above a bass level of 250 mg/l.
Sc
=
O&M cost for treatment of a unit of suspended solids (SS).
s
=
Concentration of SS from a uses above a base level of 250 mg/l.
Vu
=
Volume concentration from a user per unit of time.
(3) 
Nonconventional Pollutants.
In the event that objectionable pollutants or other nonconventional pollutants are discharged into the system and cause an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or sludge of the treatment works, the city shall take action to determine such cost and levy a surcharge to that user.
(d) 
User Charge.
All property having a connection with any mains or pipes which may be hereafter constructed and used in connection with the city wastewater system shall pay the minimum monthly rates for the first two thousand (2,000) gallons consumed, based on water meter size for normal wastewater concentrations that do not contain any objectionable pollutants as set by the city council and found in Article 1.2000, Fee Schedule, Section 1.2043 of this code.
(Ordinance O2008-09-07 adopted 9/16/08)
(a) 
General Requirements.
The user charge system shall be revised accordingly to accomplish the following:
(1) 
Maintain the proportionate distribution of operation and maintenance costs among the users and user classes as required herein;
(2) 
Generate sufficient revenue to pay the total operation and maintenance costs necessary to the proper operation and maintenance (including replacement) of the treatment and collection system works; and
(3) 
Apply excess revenues collected from users or a class of users to the costs and operation and maintenance fund and adjust the rate accordingly in the following year.
(b) 
Review Period.
It shall be the policy of the city to review the user charge system no less than every two (2) years to ensure that the general requirements of subsection (a) above are met. It also shall be the policy of the city to review all user rate structures not less than every two (2) years to ensure a fair distribution of costs.
(Ordinance O2008-09-07 adopted 9/16/08)