[Adopted 6-3-1975 by Doc. 138 (Ch. 249, Art. I, of the 1980 Code)]
[Amended 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
The City of Haverhill shall, from time to time, establish rates for the use of the wastewater treatment facility, to be recommended by the Superintendent/Engineer and approved by the City Council and Mayor, to be billed quarterly.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 249-1.1, Wastewater Rating Board, added 2-3-1981 by Doc. 27, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 3-19-1991 by Doc. 49. For current provisions, see Ch. 11, Boards and Commissions, Art. III, Water/Wastewater Abatement Board.
Should the operational, maintenance and capital costs of the wastewater treatment facility exceed the sums collected, then in such event, the charges of the use of the wastewater treatment facility shall be adjusted accordingly.
The City shall comply in all respects to the rules and regulations governing user charges and industrial cost recovery for federally assisted projects as set forth in Appendix B.
The surcharge for high concentration wastes shall be established in accordance with Appendix C.
[Added 10-11-1988 by Doc. 205; amended 2-14-1989 by Doc. 33; 7-25-1989 by Doc. 130; 9-16-2003 by Doc. 135; 1-13-2009 by Doc. 140/08]
A. 
A fee of $400 per unit will be charged to connect to the municipal sewerage system. This charge will apply to renovations and new services.
B. 
For nonresidential users and multifamily dwellings, the number of units shall be calculated by dividing the design flow by 330 gallons per day (gpd), which is the flow generated by a hypothetical three­bedroom single-family residence. The design flow for nonresidential and multifamily dwellings shall be determined using the sewer system flow design values found in the most current version of Title IV of the State Environmental Code (310 CMR 15.000).
[Amended 9-8-2015 by Doc. 109]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 249-5, Appendix A: User charges, as amended 8-9-1988 by Doc. 155, was repealed 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76.
[2]
Editor's Note: See also § 249-20, Combined sewer overflow fee, of Art. III, Wastewater Fees, of this chapter.
A. 
Pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency has established rules and regulations governing user charges and industrial cost recovery for federally assisted projects. There are two sets of regulations for industrial cost recovery. The first set of regulations applies to federal funds awarded before March 2, 1973. These regulations control the funding of the Bradford Interceptor, pumping station, force main and the treatment facility. Under these regulations all industry is required to pay its share of the local cost of construction (total cost less federal and state grants).
B. 
The regulations governing grants awarded since March 1, 1973, apply to the north bank interceptors and the river crossing projects. These regulations stipulate that, in addition to instituting user charges, the City will be required to recover from each industry that discharges industrial wastewater (i.e., wastes other than domestic wastewater) to any of the north bank interceptors an amount equal to the industry's proportional share of the federal grant (75% of the eligible project cost). The Environmental Protection Agency further requires that this amount be recovered over a period equal to 30 years or the useful life of the project, whichever is less, through a series of payments made at least annually. The regulations stipulate that 50% of the recovered revenue may be retained by the City, with the remainder refunded to the United States Treasury. Of the retained amounts, the Environmental Protection Agency requires that at least 80% be used solely for the eligible costs of reconstruction or expansion of the interceptors and river crossings. The remaining 20% may be put to other use.
C. 
The final and largest source of sewerage system revenue is the other domestic, commercial and industrial users of the system. Our detailed recommendations for an equitable system of cost recovery are presented in a later section of this report.
D. 
We have estimated the wastewater flows from those industries served by the north bank projects and have developed a recommended system of industrial cost recovery that meets the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency. The total estimated amount of the Environmental Protection Agency grant for the north bank interceptors and river crossings is $6,309,000, of which approximately $1,549,000 can be apportioned to the river crossings and $4,760,000 can be apportioned to the interceptors. In the design of these facilities, a total capacity of 18.38 million gallons per day (mgd) in terms of average daily flow has been provided for users of the facilities. However, additional capacity has been provided in the interceptors for stormwater flows. As a result, a maximum of 16.9% of the capacity of the interceptors is available for industrial use. Therefore, 16.9% of the grant amount apportioned to the interceptors and 100% of the amount apportioned to the river crossings is to be used in calculations of industrial cost recovery. This yields a total of $2,353,000. Using this information and a recovery period of 30 years, the estimated unit cost to industries of Environmental Protection Agency grant recovery is $11.70 per million gallons per year or $0.009 per 100 cubic feet per year. We estimate that the total annual industrial flow in these projects will be approximately 200 million gallons. Therefore, the total amount of the grant recovery for 1975 would be approximately $2,340. Since this amount is small and its use is restricted, it has not been included in our calculations of anticipated revenues. However, to meet Environmental Protection Agency requirements, this sum must be recovered. We recommend that a separate billing account be set up for all north bank industrial customers. These customers would be billed at the end of each year for their share of the federal grant on the basis of their total annual flow times the unit rate indicated above.
A. 
When all customers contribute wastewater of comparable strength, a simple charge based on flow will result in equitable cost recovery. However, if a customer discharges a waste which, because of its characteristics, requires treatment which is more costly than that required by normal strength wastes, then that customer should bear the extra cost. For the purpose of this study, a normal strength waste is one which has the general characteristics of domestic wastewater.
B. 
There are several measurable parameters of wastewater quality which may require provisions for a surcharge. The parameters which are relevant are those which directly affect the design and operation of the treatment facility. In Haverhill, the relevant parameters for surcharge determination are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids (SS). BOD may be defined as the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter. SS may be defined as solids that either float on the surface or are in suspension in the wastewater and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
C. 
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) states that the average concentrations of BOD and SS in domestic wastewater are approximately 250 milligrams per liter (mg/l) and 300 mg/l, respectively. Therefore, we recommend that customers who discharge a wastewater whose characteristics exceed these limits be subject to a surcharge on the excess BOD and SS. To calculate the surcharge for either parameter, one must multiply the difference between the actual average concentration in the wastewater and the limiting concentration by the total volume of flow for the billing period, then by the conversion factor 8.34 pounds per million gallons per mg/l, and finally by the cost, in dollars, of treating each pound of excess BOD or SS, as appropriate. These formulas may be written as follows:
Surcharge for BOD
=
(C1 - 250) x Q x 8.34 x S1
Where
C1
=
The average concentration of BOD in milligrams per liter.
Q
=
The total volume of wastewater contributed during the billing period, in millions of gallons.
S1
=
The surcharge for each pound of BOD, in dollars.
Surcharge for SS
=
(C2 - 300) x Q x 8.34 x S2
Where
C2
=
The average concentration of SS in milligrams per liter.
Q
=
The total volume of wastewater contributed during the billing period, in millions of gallons.
S2
=
The surcharge for each pound of SS, in dollars.
D. 
In the table below, we present data which may be used to calculate the portion of each of the treatment plant operating cost categories which may be applied to flow, BOD and SS in order to obtain the unit cost of treatment. For example, if yearly operation and maintenance costs of the treatment facility are known, or estimated, the table can be used to determine the total annual operation and maintenance costs attributable to BOD removal. This total when divided by the yearly BOD loading at the plant determines the treatment cost per pound of BOD (S1 in the surcharge formula). A similar calculation can be performed to determine S2, the unit cost of treating suspended solids. Utilizing our estimates of operation and maintenance of the treatment facility and the information in the table, we estimate that initially the values of S1 and S2 will be $0.022 and $0.023, respectively. However, these surcharges should be reviewed annually after the treatment facility is placed in operation so that cost changes can be accurately reflected by the surcharge.
Cost Allocation for Surcharge Determination
Operation and Maintenance Costs of Treatment Facility
Percentage Allocation
Flow
BOD
SS
Supervision and labor
70
15
15
Power
50
25
25
Chlorine and miscellaneous chemicals
100
--
--
Sludge-conditioning chemicals
--
50
50
Heat
Buildings
100
--
--
Sludge conditioning
--
50
50
Maintenance and supplies
100
--
--
E. 
As discussed previously, this study included industrial interviewing and sampling to determine wastewater volumes and quality. It appears that at least five of Haverhill's industries are presently discharging wastewaters of sufficient strength to require a surcharge. Our analyses indicate that samples of wastewaters from the following industries exceed either or both of the BOD and SS concentration limitations: Foss Manufacturing Co.; Cowan and Shain, Inc.; J.P. Tanning Co.; Hoyt and Worthen Tanning Corp.; and Essex Shoe Trimming Co.
F. 
We recommend that the City conduct industrial waste surveys and sampling programs periodically to analyze the wastewater characteristics of large-volume users to determine if a surcharge is indicated. When it has been determined that an industry is subject to a surcharge, the City should sample a minimum of seven days during each billing period and each sample should represent a different day of the week. These samples should be analyzed for all relevant parameters of wastewater quality. The cost of this sampling program should be borne by the City. If the users desire further sampling, they should bear the cost and submit the results to the City for consideration.
G. 
As a practical matter, it may not be desirable to surcharge the very small industries, i.e., those industries whose surcharge revenue would not cover the cost of an adequate waste monitoring and sampling program. There are substantial costs involved in sampling and analyzing an industry's wastes, and it simply may not be economical for the City to perform the work required to establish the necessity of a surcharge for small waste flows.
[Added 9-7-1976 by Doc. 148; Amended 10-5-1976 by Doc. 165; 5-26-1981 by Doc. 103; 9-29-1981 by Doc. 168-B; 6-26-2001 by Doc. 86-J; 8-27-2002 by Doc. 134-B; 9-16-2003 by Doc. 140]
A. 
Due dates; late charge.
(1) 
Domestic accounts: Effective July 1, 2001, the domestic wastewater accounts will be billed on a quarterly basis commencing February 1, 2002. Effective October 1, 2003, all bills are due within 30 days of the billing date. After 30 days, account will begin to accrue 14% interest from the billing date. The billing period for domestic bills will be August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1. NOTE: The August and February bills will be estimated whereas the November and May will be actual reading.
(2) 
Quarterly accounts: Effective October 1, 2003, the quarterly wastewater accounts will be due within 30 days of the billing date. After 30 days, account will begin to accrue 14% interest from the billing date. The billing period for quarterly bills will be July 1, October 1, January 1 and April 1.