The monthly rates required and which shall be charged and collected by the City of Cherryvale for sewer service furnished or available by the City’s sanitary sewer system shall be based upon the quantity of water used and shall be measured by the water meter or meters installed on the premises served, or for which services are available, unless suitable wastewater measuring and recording equipment is furnished and maintained by the person receiving service. The method of determining use will be as follows:

(a)   The sewer rate shall be based on the customer’s average monthly water usage during October, November, and December of each year. The basis so established shall be used in rendering sewer service bills beginning the first billing date following the establishment of the basis, payable March 1 and thereafter, and shall be used for one year. A new basis shall be established each year from usage during the months as above provided.

(b)   The basis for those customers without an established service during the months of October, November, and December from which to calculate the average monthly water usage shall be charged the base sewer rate and the rate for 1,000 gallons of usage. Such basis shall be used until the customer’s own basis is established from the next three months of usage.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-701)

(a)   SEWER RATES. Sewer rates are hereby changed to $15.19 for 2022 and then increased to $20.19 in 2023, for a base service charge with a unit charge of $3.76 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed is based on an average of the October, November, and December water consumption.

(b)   RURAL SEWER RATES. The rates for properties located outside of the Cherryvale city limits shall be $19.29 for 2022 and then increased to $24.29 for 2023, for the base service fee with a unit charge of $5.64 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed is based on an average of the October, November, and December water consumption.

(Ord. 10-4600; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-702; Ord. 14-4658; Ord. 15-4670; Ord. 20-4726; Ord. 21-4736)

The City Administrator or his or her designee shall continue to perform a rate review on a yearly basis and present his or her findings to the Governing Body at the last Council Meeting in November.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-703)

(a)   All water meters shall be read and bills for both water and sewer service shall be rendered monthly as such services accrue. The office of the City Clerk shall calculate the amount of each bill for water service for the preceding period and shall add thereto the amount of such customer’s bills for sewer service computed as hereinbefore specified and shall render to each customer a single bill for such water and sewage service.

(b)   For persons liable for payment of a sewer service charge who obtained any water from any source other than the City’s water system, such persons shall furnish and maintain suitable wastewater measuring and recording equipment for calculations of the monthly sewage service charge computed as aforesaid.

(c)   As used herein, the term “monthly” shall mean a preceding period of approximately one month beginning and ending as near the same day of the month as is practicable for the water meters of the City to be read. In reading said meters and in calculating the water bills and sewer service charges, aforesaid, the monthly period shall extend from the time such meter was read for the preceding month to the date the same is read for a current month.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-704)

(a)   Where it can be established that a customer has experienced a water leak during the period used to calculate the customer’s average monthly sewer rate, the customer’s sewer charge may be adjusted by using the average water consumption for the past 3 months, excluding the month with the leak.

(b)   Where it can be established that a commercial or industrial customer has significantly altered their water usage since the establishment of their monthly sewer charge, the customer may request an adjustment. This adjustment may be calculated by using the average water consumption for the past 6 months. The adjusted sewer charge will be effective until a new basis is established per Section 15-701 (a).

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-705)

Any business establishment, industry or other user discharging an unusual amount of waste or fluid into the City’s sewer system which places an unusual burden upon said system or its sewage treatment works or facilities, shall be charged such reasonable and proper amount as may be fixed from time to time by the governing body of the City, taking into account such unusual burden.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-706)

Owners and occupants of leased premises served by the water and sewer utilities furnished by the city are jointly liable for payment of the cost of any utilities furnished by the City to such premises, whether such water and/or sewer service is furnished upon the application and request of the owner or the lessee of the premises. The owner of any leased premises, or the owner’s agent if leasing is through an agent, shall be notified of the delinquency of the occupant of the leased premises in the same manner as notice is provided to customers pursuant to Section 15-109 and 15-110 of this chapter and at the same time of notice to the lessee customer.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-707)