This excerpt of the existing Sewer Ordinance covers Chapters II and III only. These two chapters are where the proposed changes would take place.
CHAPTER II
SEWER USER CHARGE SYSTEM
ARTICLE I: PURPOSE
To establish a fair and equitable means of distributing costs (user charge system) in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, PL92-500, Section 204 (b) (1) (A) and amendments thereto, and paragraphs 35.929 through 35.929.3 of the Federal Regulations.
ARTICLE II: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 1 This user charge system is established to insure the equitable distribution of the costs of operation and maintenance (O&M) of the wastewater treatment works within the Town of Gilford and any O&M costs associated with the Winnipesaukee River Basin program and assessed the Town of Gilford. Each individual user or user class within the Town shall pay in proportion to their contribution to the total wastewater loading on the treatment works.
Sec. 2 “Initial Costs for O&M Charges.”
For the first year of operation, O&M charges shall be based upon past experience derived from other existing municipal sewage systems, or some other method deemed appropriate and equitable to the level and type of services provided.
Sec. 3 “Biennial Review of O&M Charges.”
The Town, at its option, may at its discretion, vote to establish a Board of Sewer Commissions as prescribed by RSA 252.19 and 252.20 to administer the provisions contained in this ordinance. Provided no such Board is established, the requirements for review of charges rests with the Selectmen.
The Town of Gilford, through its duly appointed authority(ies) shall review not less than every two (2) years, the wastewater contribution of user and user classes, the total costs of O&M of the sewage system and its approved charge system. The Town shall revise charges, as appropriate, for use or user classes to accomplish the following:
Maintain the proportionate distribution of O&M costs among users and use classes as required.
Generate sufficient revenue to pay the total O&M costs necessary to properly maintain the system to include replacement costs as required and necessary.
Apply excess revenues collected from a class of users to the costs of O&M attributable to that class for the next year and adjust rates accordingly.
Sec. 4 “Charges for O&M for Extraneous Flows.”
The user charge system shall provide that the costs of O&M for all flow not directly attributable to users or use classes (i.e., infiltration/inflow) be distributed among all users of the system based upon either of the following:
In the same manner that costs of O&M are distributed among user or user classes for their actual use, or
Under a system which uses one of any combination of the following factors on a reasonable basis:
Flow volume of users;
Land Area users;
Number of hook-ups or discharges to the users.
Sec. 5 “Sanitary Sewage Fund”
The funds received from the collection of the sewer charges authorized by this ordinance and all other receipts resulting from the operation of the sewage system shall be deposited with the Town Treasurer and shall be separately accounted for and be known as the “Sanitary Sewage Fund”. This fund, when appropriated by the Board of Selectmen, shall be available for the payment of the first instance of the cost and expense of the management, maintenance, operation and repair of the Town Sanitary Sewage System and Sewage Disposal and any surplus thereafter for the cost of construction, reconstruction, replacement and for the payment of any interest and principal of any debt incurred to pay such costs for the improvement of the
Town’s sanitary sewage system or regional system.
Sec. 6 “Sewer User Charges”
The user charge shall consist of (a) basic charges associated with the operation and maintenance of the treatment works and (b) a fee for the purpose of providing a replacement fund. The charges for use of the system will be based upon volume as measured by installed water or wastewater meters as approved by the Commission and/or the Town of Gilford.
Basic Charges:
The basic charges for each individual connection to the sewer system will be determined by one of the following methods of assessment:
Upon the metered volume of water consumed as it relates to wastewater generated. Volume shall be directly measured by a metering device approved by the Commission and/or the Town of Gilford.
Upon premises where there is a non-metered private supply of water, a private meter, as approved by the Town of Gilford, shall be installed by a licensed plumber at the owner’s expense, to measure water consumption.
In all other instances where subsections (a) and (b) of this section cannot be reasonably applied, an adjustment as to sewer charges may be made by the execution of a contact between the owner and the Town of Gilford.
Metered flow rate of wastewater directly measured by a metering device approved by the Commission and/or the Town of Gilford. Such wastewater to be considered as having the following normal characteristics:
Five day BOD of not more than 200 milligrams per liter at twenty degrees centigrade (20 degrees C).
Suspended solids concentrations of not more than 200 milligrams per liter.
The basic charges for seasonally operated cottages, camps, motels, hotels, homes and similar users shall be assessed a minimum yearly charge plus a fee per 1,000 gallons (133.7 cu. ft.) of water consumed or waste generated for each unit during the period of use. The term “unit”, as used herein, refers to living unit. The minimum yearly charges will be assigned by the Town of Gilford.
For so-called dry industries (those contributing only domestic wastes or wastes equivalent to domestic wastes as outlined in Section 6, A, 1., (d), (1) and (2)), the Town shall be determined as described in A., 1, (a), (b), (c), or (d).
For all other industries, the user charge shall be assessed on the basis of strength and/or volume of the wastewater entering the sanitary sewer after pretreatment. Charges shall be based on:
Volume $_____per 1,000 gal. (133.7 cu. ft.)
BOD $_____per pound in excess of 200 mg/liter concentration
Suspended
Solids $_____per pound in excess of 200 mg/liter concentration
Rates are to be those provided annually or when determined by the State Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission in Regulation WS 1200.
Determination of Strength: The strength of wastewaters exceeding the normal characteristics as specified in Section 6, A, 1 (d), (1) and (2) above as pertaining to Section 6, Paragraph A., 4 and Paragraph C. is to be determined by the Town employing the services of an approved testing firm and/or the services of the State.
Replacement Fund:
A fee shall be assessed each user and will be determined by the equipment utilized in the wastewater handling facilities and projecting the point at which this equipment will require replacement. To this end a dollar value will be placed upon the cost of replacement and the total will be divided among the users. A fee to each user will be proportional to his wastewater contribution at the rate of $_____per 1,000 gallon (133.7 cu. ft.). See Chapter III for current rate structure.
Surcharge:
A surcharge shall be levied on all users whose wastes exceed the normal concentrations for BOD and/or suspended solids as outlined in Section 6, A., (d), (1) and (2). The charges associated with the surcharge are as follows:
BOD $_____per pound
Suspended solids $_____per pound
Rates are to be those provided annually or when determined by the State Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission in Regulation WS 1200.
Sec. 7 “User Charge Computation”
General:
As the total populace of the Town of Gilford benefits from the development of a community sewage system, capital costs will be recovered through bonding and the general tax base. All O&M costs related to the systems in being will be borne by those utilizing the system. Included in these O&M costs are those fees necessary to maintain, administer, upgrade and provide for limited future expansion. Computations for user charges will be based on the following formula and all costs are estimates at this time.
W = A + V + S where:
W = Amount, in dollars, of charges per billing period (quarters).
A = Administration and Replacement fee = As + At (minimum quarterly charge).
As = State associated costs ($_____/per connection) to administer and to cover contingencies involved with State system, i.e., failed pumps, lines, etc., that the Town utilizes.
At = Town associated costs ($_____/per connection) to cover administrative costs and contingencies relating to the Town system.
V = Charges associated with volume of wastewater generated by measuring water consumed during the billing period (thousands of gallons x $_____/1,000 gal.).
V = Vs + Vtp where:
Vs = State charges for treatment and processing associated with the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program ($_____/1,000 gal.).
Vtp = Cost to the Town for processing and system maintenance ($_____/1,000 gal.).
S = Charges associated with excessive BOD and/or suspended solids. This initial charge will be $_____/pound of suspended solids and/or BOD in excess of normal sewage strength (200 PPM of BOD and/or 200 PPM of suspended solids).
Specific Charge Formulas:
Individual dwelling with metered water supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of metered water consumed in thousands of gallons x $_____ (cost per 1,000 gallons).
Individual dwelling the No metered water supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 50 gallons per day per person occupying the dwelling x $_____ (cost per 1,000 gallons).
Seasonal Motels:
With metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of metered water consumed in thousands of gallons x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
b. Without metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 40 gallons per living unit per day the motel is open times the number of units x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
Year-Round Motels:
With metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of metered water consumed in thousands of gallons x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
Without metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 40 gallons per unit per day times the number of units x 60% occupancy per year x $_____ (cost per 1,000 gallons).
Privately-owned Seasonal Cottages:
With metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of metered water consumed in thousands of gallons x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
Without metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 50 gallons per day per person occupying the cottages times the number of days in the season x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons) – season length considered from May 1 to October 31.
Cottages occupied year-round, see Individual Dwelling.
Juvenile or Adult Camp:
With metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of metered water in thousands of gallons x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
Without metered supply:
W = V + A where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 15 gallons per person per day of the season x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons) – season length considered from June 15 to September 15.
For hotels, either seasonal or year-round, see Motels, Seasonal or Year-Round
For Industry:
With metered supply:
W = V + A + S where:
V = Volume of metered water consumed in thousands of gallons x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
Without metered supply:
W = V + A + S where:
V = Volume of water consumed using an average of 10 gallons per employee per day per shift plus the measured flow of industrial process water discharge to the sewer x $_____(cost per 1,000 gallons).
See Chapter III for current rates.
Sec. 8 “Meter Rules and Regulations”
Meters for the purpose of metering private water supplies will be provided by the owner of the premises at his own expense and accepted and approved by the Town.
(B) Meters will be purchased by the Town in quantity and sold, at cost, to individuals for installation by a licensed plumber on their premises.
(C) In the case of a meter stopping or failing to register, the quantity of water used shall be based upon the average semi-annual amount which normally passed through the meter when the meter is operational.
(D) Any request for a meter test shall be accompanied by a deposit of five ($5.00) dollars, which will be retained if the meter test shows the meter to be registering properly or in favor of the customer. If, however, tests show the meter to be registering more than the actual amount passing through, the five ($5.00) dollar deposit will be returned to the applicant and whatever adjustment the Town deems advisable shall be made.
(E) Any owner may place on his premises, at his own expense, a meter which shall be approved by the Town to measure the flow of water which does not enter the sewage system, and an adjustment of the sewer charge shall be made commensurate with said metered use in accordance with the applicable rate charged by the Town.
The Town and its duly authorized personnel shall have the right to enter the premises to read said meter(s).
No person shall remove or disconnect or cause to be disconnected any remote reader placed on a residence for the purpose of obtaining water meter readings.
Sec. 9 “Billings and Other Charges”
Billing:
Billing for user charges shall be done quarterly on or about the fifteenth (15th) day of January, April, July and October. Computations will be based upon actual meter readings as obtained by Town personnel or by readings provided by the owner or occupant of said premises utilizing prepared cares provided by the Town. Section 7 contains those formulas as appropriate for each facility, applying such rates as established in Chapter II.
Payment:
Payment of the quarterly bill will be made within thirty (30) days of said billing to the “Town of Gilford – Sanitary Sewage Fund.” Any bills not paid within this time period will be considered delinquent and a service charge of 1½% per month (annual percentage rage of 18%) will be assessed for each month the bill remains delinquent.
Delinquency:
If a payment is delinquent for more than twelve (12) months from the time of billing, the responsible officer in the Town shall file sworn statements showing such delinquencies in the Town office. The statements shall be deemed as notice to the owner of a lien upon the duly recorded real estate for which the sewer service is supplied.
Upon petition to the Board of Selectmen, not later than thirty (30) days after said sewer charge is due and payable, the Selectmen may, for good cause, and justification, abate whole or in part, any sewer charge.
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
Assumption:
All facilities will be metered, but for estimations used following:
2. Individual Dwelling Consumption: 200 GPD (gal. per day).
3. Seasonal Motels: 800 GPD consumption and operational 180 days per year.
Year-Round Motels: 800 GPD consumption.
Privately-owned Seasonal Cottages: 200 GPD consumption for 184 days/year.
Juvenile or Adult Camp: 1,000 GPD for 90 days.
Industry: 600 gallons – 30 people on 2 shift.
SAMPLES: (Quarterly Costs):
1. Individual Dwelling:
W = V + A
W = 200 x 90 x 1.70 + 25.50
1,000
W = 18 x 1.70 + 25.50
W = 56.0/qtr.
2. Seasonal Motels: (½ year)
W = V + A
W = 800 x 90 x 1.70 + 25.50
1,000
W = 72 x 1.70 + 25.50
W = 122.40 + 25.50
W = $147.90/qtr/unit
3. Year-Round Motels:
W = V + A
W = 800 x 90 x 1.70 + 25.50
1,000
W = 72 x 1.70 + 25.50
W = 122.40 + 25.50
W = $147.90/qtr./unit
CHAPTER III
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Adopted August 26, 1982
ARTICLE I: General
The operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of the Gilford Municipal Sewer System as relating to the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program will be based upon those costs as provided by the Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission. These costs are to be specified annually in Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission Control Regulation, WS 1200, or as provided in quarterly billings from the State will be utilized to adjust sewer user charges as necessary to defray costs. Administrative costs relating to the costs of administrating the program at both State and Municipal level are to be included.
Sec. 1 “Operations and Maintenance Costs”
State: These costs relate to those billed by the State on a periodic basis for those O&M items directly related to the total Winnipesaukee River Basin Project which includes the Franklin Treatment Plant. Such costs are: chemicals for the plant, utilities at the plant and various pumping stations, fuel, and salaries of plant and maintenance personnel. These costs are estimated in advance of the fiscal year, July, billed quarterly, and adjusted in the 1st quarter of the following fiscal year. At this time, estimating the rates consists of two variables, operational costs and flow costs. This total estimated cost is then divided by the estimated flow to arrive at a unit flow charge, usually dollars per thousand gallons. As both flow and
operational costs are varying greatly as the system grows, these costs will tend to stabilize as it reaches design capacity. Gilford is billed upon their contribution to the system and includes the following:
Treatment Charge:
Franklin Treatment Plant _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
2. System Replacement Charge _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
3. Maintenance Charge _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
(27.52 mi.)
4. Pump Station Charges:
Pendleton Beach: _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
Gilford: _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
Glendale: _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
Winnisquam: _____MG @ $ _____/1,000 gal.
Total State O&M Charges $ _____/1,000 gal.
(B) Town O&M Costs: Town O&M costs are required to perform the same type functions as for the State, but upon Town owned assets. It will include such items as meter repair and maintenance; repair items and tools; line cleaning and repair; manhole cleaning and repair; etc. The amount to be charged is to be 15% of the total State O&M charges.
Total State O&M Charges x 15% $_____/1,000 gal.
(C) Total O&M charges is the sum of the results of Paragraph “A” and “B” above at a rate of $_____/1,000 gallons.
Sec. 2 “Administrative Costs”
State: These costs relating to the administration of the program are limited to the salaries of the Administrator, secretarial help, and those office related duties. These costs are determined by the State utilizing design system flows as contributed by each community according to the following formula.
Cu = Total State Administrative Costs x _____MGD = Town % Contribution
Total Estimated Flow
C = Total State Administrative Costs x _____MGD = $Town Charge
_____MGD
Town: Town costs are again required to perform the same type function as for the State and are limited to the salaries of the Sewer Superintendent, secretarial help, billing preparation, and related office duties. The formula to be used will be as the State’s.
cut = Town’s Administrative Costs x Town’s % Contribution
Total Estimated Flow
or
cut = Total Town’s Administrative Costs = _____MGD = $_____
_____MGD
Where:
cut = Town’s user’s charge for administration per unit of time
MGD – Million Gallons per day.
Total administrative charges is the sum of paragraph “A” and “B” above at a rate of $_____/per connection.
Sec. 3 “Total Sewer User Rate”
The total sewer user rate to be charged each customer serviced by the Winnipesaukee River Basin Project will be that resulting from those charges stated in Paragraph C of Sections 1 and 2. This rate will be recomputed annually based upon estimated costs provided by the State during the 4th quarter of the State fiscal year (April – June) to become effective the 1st fiscal quarter (July – September) of the following State fiscal year. See Attachment #1 for actual computations which is to be updated at least annually or as dictated by State billing procedures.
ATTACHMENT #1
SEWER USER RATE COMPUTATIONS
Administrative Costs:
1
State: $13,950.
2
Town: $60,389.
$74,339.
Service Connections: 600 (Estimated)
Administrative Cost Computations:
Total costs – number of connections – four quarters = Administrative Costs
$74,339 – 650 – 4 = $28.60 ($25.50)
Operation & Maintenance Costs:
3
State: $106,600.
4
Town: $ 15,975.
Total $122,575.
Flow:
5
58,612,800 Gals. + 8,791,920 (Est.) Gals – 67,404,720 Gals.
Flow Charge Computations:
Total cost – number of Gallons x 1,000 = Flow Charge
$122,575 – 67,404,720 x 1,000 = $1.81/1,000 Gals. ($1.70)
/s/ Sandra T. McGonagle
Sandra T. McGonagle
/s/ Richard L. Richardson
Richard L. Richardson
/s/ Thomas T. Weekes
Thomas T. Weekes
GILFORD BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Revised 11/86
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