A. 
Sewer rentals and charges provided by this part are imposed upon and shall be collected from the owner of each improved property, located within the corporate limits of the City, which shall be connected either directly or indirectly to the sewer system. Such sewer rentals and charges shall be effective as of January 1, 2016, or the date of the latest revision, as adopted by resolution of the Council of the City of Lancaster to be applied to water meter readings made on or after that date, and shall be payable as provided in this part.
B. 
Sewer rentals and charges shall also be imposed upon and shall be collected from the owner of each improved property located within the corporate limits of the City which shall have been notified to connect to the sewer system and have failed to do so within 90 days after the mailing date of official notice to connect and any extension of time therefor authorized by official authority. In such event, sewer rentals and charges shall be computed as provided in this part just as if the property were connected to and discharging into the sewer system.
A. 
Domestic establishments located within City. Sewer rentals and charges for any improved property constituting a domestic establishment shall be computed in accordance with the rate schedule set forth in § 249-29 upon the volume of sewage discharged into the sewer system during the preceding quarter annum. In the case of a domestic establishment, the volume of sewage discharged shall be deemed equal to the volume of water metered as delivered from the City's water system during the preceding quarter annum.
B. 
Commercial and industrial establishments located within City. Sewer rentals and charges for sewage discharged into the sewer system from any improved property constituting a commercial establishment or an industrial establishment shall be computed, in accordance with the rate schedule set forth in § 249-29 upon the volume of sewage and/or industrial wastes discharged into the sewer system during the preceding quarter annum.
A. 
Methods of measuring volume.
(1) 
Whenever the entire water supply of an improved property constituting a commercial establishment or an industrial establishment which shall discharge sewage and/or industrial wastes into the sewer system shall be supplied exclusively by the City's water system, the volume of water furnished, as determined from meter readings of the Water Bureau, shall be used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals and charges, subject to adjustment as permitted in Subsection A(3) hereof.
(2) 
Whenever an improved property constituting a commercial establishment or an industrial establishment which shall discharge sewage and/or industrial wastes into the sewer system shall have a source of water supply in addition to or other than the City's water system, the owner of such improved property shall provide a meter on such additional or other source of water supply. The total volume of water furnished, as determined from the meter readings of the Water Bureau and the meter readings of the meters on such additional or other sources of water supply, or the meter readings of the meters on such other sources of water supply, as appropriate, shall be used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing the sewer rentals and charges, subject to adjustments as permitted in Subsection A(3) hereof.
(3) 
Whenever an improved property constituting a commercial establishment or an industrial establishment shall use water from the City's water system, or water from the City's water system and/or water from a source of supply in addition to or other than the City's water system, and all or part of the water so used shall not be discharged into the sewer system, the volume used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals and charges may be adjusted by one of the following methods:
(a) 
By installing a meter or other measuring device on the connection to the sewer system. The readings from such meter or measuring device shall be used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals and charges.
(b) 
By installing a meter or other measuring device to measure the volume not being discharged into the sewer system. The readings from such meter or measuring device shall be deducted from the total water meter readings and the remainder shall be used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals and charges.
(c) 
If it is not practical, in the opinion of the City, to install a meter or other measuring device to determine continuously the volume not discharged into the sewer system, the City shall determine, in such manner and by such method as it may prescribe, the percentage of metered water which is being discharged into the sewer system. The quantity of water used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals and charges shall be the percentage so determined of the quantity measured by the water meters. Any dispute as to such estimated percentage shall be submitted to the City, after notice of such estimate. The decision of the City with respect to the matter shall be final for the then-current calendar year.
B. 
Measuring devices. Meters or other measuring devices which shall be required or permitted under this section, other than meters of the City's water system, shall be furnished and installed by the owner of the improved property, at his expense, shall be under the control of the City and may be tested, inspected or repaired by the City whenever necessary. The owner of the improved property shall be responsible for the maintenance and safekeeping of such meter or other measuring device. All repairs thereto shall be made at the expense of the owner, whether such repairs shall be made necessary by ordinary wear and tear or other cause. Bills for such repairs, if made by the City, shall be due and payable immediately upon completion of such repairs and shall be collected in the same manner as quarter annum bills for sewer rentals and charges.
C. 
Meter readings. The City shall be responsible for the reading of all meters or other measuring devices required or permitted under this section, other than those owned and read by the Water Bureau, and the same shall be available to the City for such purpose at all reasonable times.
[Amended 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 27-2022; 12-17-2024 by Ord. No. 13-2024]
The monthly sewer rentals and charges shall be computed in accordance with the following schedules:
A. 
Consumption charges. Metered volume rate per 1,000 gallons:
Gallons per Month
Rate per 1,000 gallons
First 25,000
$13.5421
Next 308,000
$10.2115
All over 333,333
$7.6108
B. 
Minimum charges:
Size of Water Service Line/Meter
(inches)
Monthly Minimum Charge
5/8
$8.80
3/4
$8.80
1
$26.40
1 1/2
$52.80
2
$87.99
3
$175.99
4
$249.84
6
$428.93
8
$667.70
10
$965.85
Sewer rentals and charges imposed by this part shall be payable on the dates and shall cover the periods as follows:
A. 
In the case of the owner of an improved property whose bill, under provisions of this part, shall be computed, in whole or in part, upon the basis of volume of water usage metered by the City's water system and who shall be billed by the Water Bureau on a quarter annum basis, the billing date shall be the same date and shall cover the same period as shall be applicable to the billing of the Water Bureau.
B. 
Sewer rentals and charges shall be payable upon the date when the bill is computed. That amount, computed in accordance with this part, shall constitute the net bill. If sewer rentals and charges shall not be paid within 30 calendar days after the date upon which such shall be payable, interest at the rate of 6% per annum shall be charged until payment shall be made. Payment made or mailed and postmarked on or before the last day of such thirty-calendar-day period shall constitute payment within such period. If the end of such thirty-calendar-day period falls on a legal holiday or a Sunday, payment which shall be made on, or mailed and postmarked on, the next succeeding weekday which is not a legal holiday shall constitute payment within such period.
C. 
In the event that sewer rentals and charges imposed under provisions of this part shall become applicable to any improved property constituting a domestic establishment, commercial establishment or industrial establishment during a billing period as set forth in Subsection A hereof, or in the event that service to any improved property constituting a domestic establishment, commercial establishment or industrial establishment shall begin after the first day or shall terminate before the last day of any billing period as set forth in Subsection A hereof, sewer rentals and charges for such billing period shall be applicable for the portion of the billing period.
D. 
Failure of any person to receive appropriate bills for sewer rentals and charges shall not be considered an excuse for nonpayment. Such failure shall not result in an extension of the period of time during which the net bill shall be payable.
The Department of Administrative Services shall establish a Delinquent Sewer Index, to be kept in the Municipal Building, open to the inspection of the public during business hours, in which shall be posted all delinquent bills for sewer rentals and charges. Such delinquent bills may be entered as a lien against the property served. The City Solicitor shall enter liens for the delinquent bills and all other amounts due pursuant to the terms of Chapter 36 and shall from time to time proceed to collect the bills or the part thereof remaining unpaid according to law and all other amounts due the City, including but not limited to accrued interest and penalties imposed by law.
If any bill for sewer service or for water service or for both sewer and water service is not paid within the due date on the bill, a finance charge shall accrue monthly at the highest rate authorized by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regulations.