§ 40-484. Surcharges.

(a)

The intent of this section is to implement a user charge plan whereby the city, shall have the authority to levy surcharges on users of the city's sewerage system who discharge wastewaters into such system which are higher in strength than ordinary domestic wastewater.

(b)

Domestic wastewater shall be defined as wastewater having no more than 300 mg/L of five day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and no more than 300 mg/L suspended solids (SS).

(c)

Sewerage system users, other than septic tank haulage trucks, who discharge into the city's sewerage system a wastewater having a BOD concentration greater than 300 mg/L and a SS concentration greater than 300 mg/L shall be charged an "excessive use" surcharge for that amount of BOD and SS above 300 mg/L. The excessive use surcharge rate shall be calculated and fixed as provided in the city's duly adopted user charge plan.

(d)

Class I users shall be defined as those sewerage system users who discharge less than 250,000 gallons per average working day.

(e)

Class II users shall be defined as those sewerage system users who discharge 250,000 gallons or more per average working day.

(f)

The discharge by a class I user of wastewater into the city sewerage system containing greater than 750 mg/L BOD or greater than 750 mg/L SS, other than septic tank haulage, is prohibited.

(g)

The discharge by a class II user of wastewater into the city sewerage system containing greater than 300 mg/L BOD or greater than 300 mg/L SS is prohibited, except as follows: a class II user may be allowed to discharge wastewater containing up to 750 mg/L BOD and up to 750 mg/L SS on a temporary basis if, in the opinion of the city manager, such increased concentrations of BOD, SS, or both, above the 300 mg/L limit does not adversely affect the quality of effluent discharged from the city's sewage treatment facility, in which case the class II user shall be charged the excessive use surcharge rate as provided in this section.

(h)

The secretary of the city commission shall review and revise the user charge plan annually on or about July 1. This annual review shall incorporate the past year's audited sewerage system operating, maintenance and replacement costs into the surcharge formulae contained in the city's duly adopted user charge plan. The revised surcharge rates shall go into effect the first of the month next following the completion of the revision by the secretary of the city commission and notification to the eligible users of their new surcharge rates.

(i)

The wastewater of a user subject to the wastewater surcharge shall be tested no less often than quarterly. Testing shall be for at least BOD and SS on a 24-hour composite sample. A user's surcharge shall be revised based on the results of the testing and the revised results shall become effective the first of the month following notification to the eligible user of their new surcharge rate.

(j)

The secretary of the city commission shall maintain records and submit reports and financial statements to the Environmental Protection Agency in conformance with the latest regulations.

(k)

This section shall be amended, as necessary, to comply with federal regulations.

(l)

Enforcement of this section shall be as provided in section 40-479. Persons committing any act prohibited by this section shall be punished as provided by section 1-12.

(Prior Code, § 20-14)