§ 51.28. WATER USAGE.

(A) The quantity of water discharged into the sanitary sewage system and obtained from sources other than the utility that serves the city shall be determined by the city in a manner as the city shall reasonable elect, and the sewage service shall be billed at the above appropriate rates, except, as is hereinafter provided in this section, the city may make proper allowances in determining the sewage bill for quantities of water shown on the records to be consumed, but which are also shown to the satisfaction in the city that the quantities do not enter the sanitary sewage system.

(B) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids into the city’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, is not a user of water supplied by the water utility serving the city, and the water used thereon or therein is not measured by a water meter, or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the city, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the city. In order to ascertain the rate or charge provided in this subchapter, the owner or other interested party shall, at his or her expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the city for the determination of sewage discharge.

(C) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids into the city’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of water supplied by the water utility serving the city, and in addition, is a user of water from another source which is not measured by a water meter or is measured by a meter not acceptable to the city, then the amount of water used shall be otherwise measured or determined by the city. In order to ascertain the rates or charges, the owner or other interested parties shall, at his or her expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the city for the determination of sewage discharge.

(D) In the event two or more residential lots, parcels of real estate or buildings discharging sanitary sewage, water or other liquids into the city’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, are users of water and the quantity of water is measured by a single water meter, then in each of this type of case, for billing purposes, the quantity of water used shall be averaged for each user and the base charge and the flow rates and charges shall apply to each of the number of residential lots, parcels of real estate or buildings served through the single water meter.

(E) In the event two or more dwelling units such as mobile homes, apartments or housekeeping rooms discharging sanitary sewage, water or other liquids into the city’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, are users of water and the quantity of water is measured by a single water meter, then in this case billing shall be for a single service in the manner set out elsewhere herein, except that the minimum bill shall not be less than the number of dwelling units times $4.85 per month. In the case of mobile home courts, the number of dwelling units shall be computed and interpreted as the total number of mobile home spaces available for rent plus any other dwelling units served through the meter. A dwelling unit shall be interpreted as a room or rooms or any other space or spaces in which cooking facilities are provided.

(F) In order that the single-family domestic and residential users of sewage service shall not be penalized for the use of water for lawn care during the consumption months, the billing for sewage services for residences and/or domestic uses for the months of May, June, July, August and September (billing months of June, July, August, September and October) shall be based upon the average water usage for the previous billing months of December, January, February, March, April and May. The sprinkling rate allowance shall not be available to users who have occupied the billed premises for less than three months and not received three bills prior to the sprinkling rate billing period. In the event the water usage for the consumption months of May, June, July, August and September is less than the average of the previous months, then the billing for sewage services shall be computed on the actual water used in the month for which the sewage service bill is being charged. Domestic and/or residential sewage service as applicable to the sprinkling rate shall apply to each lot, parcel of real estate or building which is occupied and used as a single-family residence. For the purpose of this section condominiums shall be treated as single-family residences.

(G) The sprinkling rate set out herein shall not apply to any premises which are partially or wholly used for multi-family, commercial, industrial or other nonresidential purposes. The owner of any multi- family, commercial, industrial or other nonresidential property which is used partially for residential purposes shall have the right to obtain separate water service for the residential portion of the premises and, if the separation of water service is obtained by the owner, then that water service used solely for residential purposes would qualify for the sprinkling rate provided herein. In the event that a user who does not qualify for the sprinkling allowance desires to be considered for this allowance, then the user shall petition the Board of Public Works and Safety in writing for consideration for this allowance.

(H) In the event a lot, parcel of real estate or building discharges sanitary sewage, industrial waste, water or other liquids into the city’s sanitary sewage system, either directly or indirectly, and uses water in excess of 3,500 cubic feet per month, and it can be shown to the satisfaction of the city that a portion of water as measured by the water meter or meters does not and cannot enter the sanitary sewage system, then the owner or other interested party shall, at his or her expense, install and maintain meters, weirs, volumetric measuring devices or any adequate and approved method of measurement acceptable to the city for the determination of sewage discharge.

(‘89 Code, § 103.04) (Am. Ord. 9, passed 3-26-01)