A. 
Applicability. County utility customers shall be charged an administrative set-up charge to cover all costs related to the application process, including verifying service, locating the service line installation, and any other tasks necessary to establish availability of service. Other charges as set forth in this rate schedule may be required as determined by the Utility Administrator. Applicable gross receipts taxes will be added to all charges.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 305, Taxation, Part 1, Gross Receipt Taxes.
B. 
Service application. Customers must request service by completing an application for wastewater service and user agreement available at the offices of the Doña Ana County Utilities Department or designated agent. All administrative charges and other required charges must be paid or payment arrangements made prior to approving the customer's application for wastewater service and user agreement.
C. 
The administrative set-up charge shall be in an amount as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. The administrative set-up charge shall increase when the hook-up of any occupied home or business exceeds six months as required by this chapter. For each wastewater service area identified, the County shall conduct an inventory of all dwellings at the time the "Notice of Availability" is announced. The announcement of "Notice of Availability" shall start the six-month mandatory connection period.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
D. 
Stand-by charge. All applicants that have paid the administrative set-up charge within the mandatory connection period but have not physically connected to the wastewater system shall be billed the minimum fixed monthly charge for the appropriate customer classification (Rate Schedule 3[2]), beginning on the seventh month. If a customer has not paid the administrative set-up charge and is not physically connected to the wastewater system, the customer shall pay the increased administrative set-up charge as described in Subsection B(1) above, and the minimum fixed monthly charge for the appropriate customer classification (Rate Schedule 3). All uncollected stand-by charges must be paid prior to connection to the system.
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 319-48.
E. 
Customer deposit. A deposit may be required pursuant to Rule No. 16, Security Deposits and Guarantees of Payments.[3] Initial deposit amounts are as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Art. II, § 319-35.
F. 
Installation charges.
(1) 
If a customer's property does not yet have a wastewater service connection to the property, but does have a main wastewater line within 300 feet of the property, the customer is required to pay for service connection installation charges, including materials and labor. At the time of application for service, the County will provide the residential and small commercial prospective customer with a set of standards that describe the type of service required. The size of the installation shall be based on the recommendation of the customer's licensed plumber. Only licensed contractors are permitted to connect to the County's main wastewater line. The County shall determine the location of the wastewater service installation. Wastewater services involving an industrial user shall require the recommendation of a licensed plumber or engineer and shall comply with all applicable requirements of the customer's discharge permit.
(2) 
If a customer chooses to have the County or its designated representative connect to the main wastewater line, the County charges will be based on actual costs plus an administrative fee of 10%.
G. 
Exclusions. Charges described in this rate schedule may not be applicable to wastewater system customers where the installation of new connections, wastewater lines and facilities has been completed with the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds. Further, Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
The one-time charge is applicable to all new customers who connect to the County's system. Service will be furnished in accordance with the County's Rules and Regulations addressing wastewater service. Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added to all charges.
A. 
One-time charges shall be as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. The one-time charge for customers with water meter sizes greater than two inches shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. The evaluation will include but is not limited to consideration of the volume and characteristics of wastewater discharge, pretreatment requirements, and the cost to the wastewater utility's infrastructure and treatment capacities. The determination shall be described and executed by contract.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
B. 
Multi-unit service lines with individual meters. A customer may request individual meters to be installed for a multi-unit property. A master meter shall be required and the one-time charge for the applicable meter size will be applied. For each individual meter requested to be installed beyond the master meter, a multi-unit surcharge will be required in an amount as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
C. 
Residential volume discounts. In the case of a large subdivision (more than 40 lots), the County will offer volume discounts for the one-time charge (residential classification only), when payments are made in advance of construction (60 days after subdivision approval). The discounts shall apply according to the following table:
Subdivision Size
(lots)
Discount Per Lot
40 to 100
10%
101 to 200
15%
More than 200
20%
D. 
Exclusions. Charges described in this rate schedule may not be applicable to wastewater system customers where the installation of new connections, wastewater lines and facilities has been completed with the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds. Further, Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
A. 
Applicability.
(1) 
The residential and commercial rates are available only for normal wastewater dischargers at individual residences, individual dwelling units, individual farm units, apartments, and commercial establishments. Service shall be provided through a single wastewater service line at a location to be designated by the County.
(2) 
Service will be furnished in accordance with the County's ordinances and rules and regulations addressing wastewater service, available at the County Utilities Department.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Arts. I and II of this chapter.
B. 
Service area. The service areas are designated in Article I, § 319-5, of this chapter. The Utilities Department maintains maps of the service areas.
C. 
Monthly fixed and variable charges. The charge for wastewater service provided shall be the sum of fixed (F) and variable (V). Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added to all charges.[2] See the rates set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 305, Taxation, Part 1.
D. 
Minimum charge. The minimum charge under this schedule shall be the fixed monthly charge regardless of volume of flow measured.
E. 
Surcharge for excess waste strength.
[Amended 5-23-2017 by Res. No. 2017-51]
(1) 
A surcharge shall be applied to all users for excess wastewater strength above domestic levels as defined by this chapter.
(2) 
A monthly biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) surcharge will be assessed for every milligram per liter (mg/L) BOD higher than 250 mg/L per pound per million gallons of industrial waste discharged, and a monthly total suspended solids (TSS) surcharge will be assessed for every milligram per liter (mg/L) TSS higher than 200 mg/L per pound per million gallons of industrial waste discharged.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 179, Fees and Permits.
F. 
Exclusions. Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
Special charges are applicable to special services as defined in the County's rules and regulations regarding wastewater service.[1] Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added to all charges.[2]
A. 
Collection charge. If the customer does not pay for wastewater service within the time specified by the bill, the County shall charge a rate as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, for each month the bill is unpaid.
B. 
Reactivation charge. Whenever service is discontinued for nonpayment of charges, nonuse, or similar reasons, as described in Rule No. 12, Discontinuance and Denial of Restoration of Service,[3] a charge as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, shall be assessed by the County for the cost of reactivating service.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Art. II, § 319-31.
C. 
Returned check or bank draft charge. The County shall assess a charge as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, in the event the customer's check or bank draft is returned for insufficient funds, cancellation of account or for any other reason attributable to the customer.
D. 
Exclusions. Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. II of this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Chapter 305, Taxation, Part 1.