It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the recovery
of costs from users of the City's wastewater disposal system for the
implementation of the program established herein. The applicable charges
or fees shall be set forth in the City's Schedule of Charges and Fees.
A.
For billing purposes the volume of waste discharged into the sewer
system shall normally be based on the metered water consumption of
the user as shown in the records of meter reading maintained by the
City.
B.
Whenever any industrial user purchases all its water from the City
and more than 20% of such water is not returned to the sewer system,
the industrial user may request that billings be based upon metered
wastewater quantities. If approved by the City Manager, such user
may then provide and maintain at his own expense a meter acceptable
to the Superintendent for the measurement of the quantities of wastewater
discharged. The meter shall be accessible for inspection by the Superintendent
at all times and shall be maintained to produce an accurate record
of the true quantities of sewage and wastewater discharged.
C.
Whenever any user obtains any part of his water supply from sources
other than the City, the quantities of wastewater shall be determined
from the metered quantities of wastewater discharged to the sewer
system. All wastewater meters shall be provided and maintained to
produce an accurate record of the true quantities of water or wastewater
discharged to the sewer system. All costs of meter installation, calibration,
and maintenance shall be borne by the user at his own expense. The
type of meters shall be acceptable to the Superintendent and the meters
shall be accessible at all times for inspection by the Superintendent.
All persons discharging wastes into the City sanitary sewer
system shall be rendered a bimonthly (six times per year) bill for
the cost incurred by the City for the sewerage works services. Said
bill shall include the proportionate share of:
[Amended 6-13-2022; 6-12-2023]
The charges provided for in this article shall be arrived in
the following manner: the City Manager shall recommend to the City
Council the rate to be charged. The rate of charges to be fixed by
the City Council shall be based upon meter flow. Beginning with the
billings issued on or after July 1, 2023, the rates for consumption
of water or treatment of sewer effluent shall be as shown below until
amended by ordinance duly adopted by City Council.
A.
Inside corporate limits.
B.
Outside corporate limits.
C.
(Reserved)
D.
Water connection charges.
|
Size of Line
(inches)
|
75 feet or Less to Nearest Property Line
|
Over 75 feet to Nearest Property Line
|
|---|---|---|
|
3/4
|
$1,000
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $1,000
|
|
1
|
$1,500
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $1,500
|
|
1 1/2
|
$2,000
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $2,000
|
|
2
|
$2,500
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $2,500
|
|
4 and larger
|
$3,000, plus cost of meter and vault
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $3,000, plus water meter and
vault
|
E.
Sewer connection charges.
|
Size of Line
(inches)
|
75 feet or Less to Nearest Property Line
|
Over 75 feet to Nearest Property Line
|
|---|---|---|
|
4
|
$1,000
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $1,000
|
|
6 or larger
|
$1,500
|
Cost plus 15%, but not less than $1,500
|
F.
Reconnection fees. All meters disconnected due to nonpayment shall
not be reconnected until the customer has paid the assessed user charge
in full, and has paid $50 for the service of reconnecting the meter.
G.
Mandatory water connection.
(1)
The owner of any house, building, or property used for human occupancy,
employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the City
limits of the City of Galax and abutting on any street, alley, or
right-of-way in which there exists or is hereafter constructed or
acquired a publicly owned water line, is hereafter required, at the
owner's sole expense, to connect such facilities directly with the
proper public water line and thereafter shall cease to use or install
any other method for potable or nonpotable water supply; provided
that the public water line is within a distance of not more than 350
feet from the property line.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, those persons
having a private water system meeting applicable standards of the
State Department of Health shall not be required under this section
to discontinue the use of such system. However, such persons may be
required to pay a monthly nonuser service charge, which charge shall
not be more than that proportion of the minimum monthly user charge
imposed by the City of Galax as debt service bears of the total operating
and debt service costs. All fees charged will be in accordance with
the rules and regulations as adopted from time to time by the City
Council.
(3)
Those persons having a private water system shall not expand or replace such private system once that system ceases to function or ceases to serve its purpose. At such time, the owner of such private water shall be required to connect to the publicly owned water, provided that such property is within the proximity set out in Subsection G(1). For the purpose of this section, ceasing to function and ceasing to serve its purpose shall mean that the private system is no longer in operation or no longer meets the applicable standards set by the State Department of Health and that complete replacement, addition, or expansion is required to repair the system to function properly or meet the applicable State Department of Health standards.
(4)
Collection of applicable fees and charges under this subsection will
follow rules and procedures of the City of Galax.
A.
In determining the fees due under § 153-36A and B of the Code of the City of Galax, a separate base rate shall be assessed for each individual dwelling unit and each individual sleeping unit as those terms are defined in § 153-4 of the Code of the City of Galax, regardless of whether said unit is served by a separate meter, master meter, or shares a common meter with other units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, sleeping units shall be assessed at 1/2 of the base rate now provided under § 153-36A and B, or as those sections may be amended from time to time.
B.
In determining the fees due under § 153-36A and B of the Code of the City of Galax, a separate base rate shall be assessed for each separate retail, business or commercial space or unit having separate water and/or sewer facilities, regardless of whether said space or unit is served by a separate meter, master meter, or shares a common meter with other spaces or units.
C.
Any residential or commercial property having five or more units
shall have a single master meter which shall measure the overall flow
for all units located on such property.
All customers are required to remit to the City a deposit of
$125 for water and sewer services before these services may be utilized.
Customers who own real property in the City are exempt from the deposit
requirement.
The City will accept septage, pursuant to regulations to be
promulgated by the City Manager, from jurisdictions within Carroll
County or Grayson County exclusively, at a fee of $100 per every 1,000
gallons or portion thereof.
[Amended 9-11-2023]
A.
The charges for this service shall be billed and payable bimonthly
(six times per year) on a bill rendered by the City Finance Department.
Said bills shall be sent through the United States Mail notifying
all persons of the amount and date due. Failure to receive notice
shall not be an excuse for nonpayment of bills.
B.
Persons not having paid their bills within 30 days of the billing
date will be delinquent. After such notices to the owner or occupant
as required by § 15.2-2119D[1] or as otherwise provided by law, the water connection
serving the premises may be severed and not turned on again until
the bill is paid.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 15.2-2119D, Code of Virginia.
A.
The City may adopt charges and fees which may include:
(1)
Fees for reimbursement of costs of setting up and operating the City's
pretreatment program;
(2)
Fees for monitoring, inspections and surveillance procedures;
(3)
Fees for reviewing accidental discharge procedures and construction;
(4)
Fees for permit applications;
(5)
Fees for filing appeals;
(6)
Fees for consistent removal (by the City) of pollutants otherwise
subject to federal pretreatment standards;
(7)
Other fees as the City may deem necessary to carry out the requirements
contained herein.
B.
These fees relate solely to the matters covered by this chapter and
are separate from all other fees chargeable by the City.
