[Adopted 2-14-1984]
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
As provided for under Section 7-255 et seq.
of the Connecticut General Statutes and for the protection of the
public health, safety and welfare, the Water Pollution Control Authority
(WPCA) is empowered to establish and revise fair and reasonable charges
for the use of the municipal sewerage system for the purpose of providing
funds for the operation and maintenance expenses associated with the
collection, conveyance and treatment of wastewater. The owner of real
property, including tax exempt real property, against which any such
use charge is levied shall be liable for the payment thereof.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23; 6-12-2023 by Ord. No. 23-08]
A.
All real property or structures which are connected to the municipal
sewerage system on July 1 of each year shall be charged for the use
of the sewerage system for the fiscal year beginning that July 1.
B.
A prorated use charge shall be assessed against any real property
or structure connected to the municipal sewerage system after July
1, from the first day of the month following the date of the issuance
of a certificate of occupancy (for new construction) or a connection
permit, as applicable, to June 30 next following. The Building Inspector
or Town Engineer, as applicable, shall make a list of such properties
and structures to transmit to the Tax Assessor for billing and collection.
Pro-rata bills shall be due and payable within 30 days of issuance.
C.
The total cost of the operation and maintenance of the sewerage system,
including replacement funds (OM&R) shall be recovered from the
users of the system. Each user's share of the OM&R cost of
the sewerage system shall be in proportion to the user's contribution
to the total wastewater loading of the sewerage system. All users
shall be charged on the basis of the volume of their total wastewater
contribution. A surcharge shall be added to the volume-based charge
for any wastewater discharge with either BOD or suspended solids (SS)
concentrations in excess of 300 ppm, or for any discharge whose other
constituents, either individually, or in combination with each other
or with the constituents of other wastewater discharges, result in
an identifiable increase in wastewater conveyance, treatment or disposal
costs. The amount of surcharge for BOD and SS concentrations in excess
of 300 ppm shall be established and reviewed, at least annually, by
the WPCA based upon the reasonable cost of operating the various processes
related to treating BOD and SS in excess of the maximum allowed concentrations.
The amount of surcharge for other constituents shall be calculated
on a case-by-case basis, based upon the reasonable increase in OM&R
costs attributable to the specific constituents and their quantities.
D.
Charges for disposing of septage at the water pollution control facility
shall be established by the WPCA, and reviewed at least annually,
based on the same criteria as that used to determine sewer use rates;
that is, volume and concentration of the individual discharge.
E.
The WPCA shall review the sewer use charges at least annually and
revise the rates as necessary to ensure that adequate revenues are
generated to recover all OM&R costs and that the rate structure
continues to distribute the costs of wastewater collection and treatment
among the users in proportion to each user's contribution.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A.
Consideration having been given to the total volume
of water discharged to the municipal sewerage system, including infiltration/inflow
and transported septage, the WPCA has determined that approximately
all of the water consumed by approximately all sewer users is from
a metered source; that approximately all wastewater flows are discharged
to the municipal sewerage system; that approximately all wastewater
flows to private disposal systems or storm drains are metered; that
the ratio (percentage) of volume wastewater flow to volume of water
consumed is approximately equal for all users of the municipal sewerage
system; that approximately all residential users consume similar volumes
of water and that the variations in water consumption among individual
residential users are deminimus in the context of both the aggregate
volumes of water consumed and domestic sewage discharged to the municipal
sewerage system by all residential users; and that most of the costs
of treating domestic sewerage from residential users are fixed and
do not vary significantly based upon the volume of water consumed
by individual residential users. Based upon the forgoing, the Town
finds that charging each user of the sewerage system based upon the
volume of water each consumes to be a fair and reasonable method.
B.
Each residential user in the Town of Stratford shall
be charged an equivalent sewer user fee regardless of actual differences
in the volume of water consumed by each such user. Such equivalent
use charge shall be in proportion to each residential user's pro-rata
share of the OM&R cost of the sewerage system reasonably attributable
to that class of user as a whole.
C.
In the event that a significant portion of the water
consumed by any nonresidential user is not discharged to the sewerage
system, the Director may, for good cause shown, make an appropriate
adjustment to that user's annual charge.
D.
Water consumption for each real property or structure
not serviced by the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company (BHC) shall be estimated
by the Director on an equitable basis. In order to assist in preparing
each such estimate, the Director may, from time to time, require the
owner or operator of any real property or structure not serviced by
BHC to submit a sworn statement of water consumption for the past
12 months, such statement to be supported by available records or
other evidence of water consumption. The Director may also require
the owner or operator of any real property or structure not serviced
by BHC and not otherwise metered to install and maintain a water or
sewer meter at the sole expense of such owner or operator.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
It shall be unlawful, except as may otherwise
be provided herein, for any user to discharge into the Town's sewerage
system unless such user shall pay to the Town of Stratford a user
charge as herein provided.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A.
Annually, on or before July 20 of each year, each user, except residential users and those not required to do so by the Director in accordance with Subsection B, below, shall make a written evaluation of its waste discharge for the prior calendar year in accordance with the requirements of these regulations, on forms provided by the Town, and shall determine its user classification status. Final determination of each user's user classification status shall be made by the Director.
B.
Subject to verification of their user classification
status by the Director, residential and certain small, nonresidential
users shall not be required to file certification reports.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A.
Each large nonresidential user shall submit an annual
certified statement for each facility to the Director on forms supplied
by the Town, certifying the accuracy of all pertinent data relative
to the quantities, characteristics and concentrations of its discharge
into the sewerage system of the Town of Stratford, including, without
limitation, the methods of sampling and measurement used to obtain
said data. Such reports shall be filed within 20 days of the close
of the reporting period. Copies of all pertinent, corroborative documentation
shall be submitted with the certified statement. The Director shall
have the right of access to the waste stream of each such user to
take independent samples.
C.
Should inspection by the Director reveal that any
information on a user's annual certified statement does not accurately
represent actual conditions, the Director shall have the right to
make appropriate adjustments to the data and to the sewer use charge
accordingly.
D.
Unless otherwise provided, all measurements, tests,
sampling and analysis required herein shall be in accordance with
the latest edition of standard methods for the examination of water
and wastewater, published jointly by the American Public Health Association,
the American Waterworks Association and the Water Pollution Control
Federation.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A.
All sewer use charges shall be billed twice per year
and shall be paid in full within a period of 30 days after same is
declared due and payable unless otherwise stated on the billing form.
B.
Any charge for connection to or for the use of the
sewerage system not paid within 30 days of the due date shall thereupon
be delinquent and shall bear interest from the due date at the rate
and in the manner provided by the general statutes for delinquent
property taxes. Each addition of interest shall be collectible as
a part of such connection or use charge. Any such unpaid connection
or use charge shall constitute a lien upon the real estate against
which such charge was levied from the date it became delinquent. Each
such lien may be continued, recorded and released in the manner provided
by the general statutes for continuing, recording and releasing property
tax liens. Each such lien shall take precedence over all other liens
and encumbrances except taxes and may be foreclosed in the same manner
as a lien for property taxes.
C.
Sewer use charges shall be collected in accordance
with the regulations and procedures as promulgated by the WPCA and
shall be paid to the Tax Collector and deposited by the Town Finance
Director in a special account, separate from other Town funds, designated
the "Wastewater Operating Fund." This fund shall be used for operation,
maintenance, administration, replacement and expansion of the sewerage
system and for payment of principle and interest on bonds and notes
of the Town issued for construction of the sewerage system.
D.
The Tax Collector is hereby designated as the collector
of sewerage system connection and use charges. Said Tax Collector
may impose a lien upon any real property for which any sewerage system
connection or use charge has not been paid. Sewer charges may become
part of and be billed together with real estate property tax bills.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A.
Any person aggrieved by any charge for the use of
the sewerage system, including any adjustment or revision thereto
by the Director, may make written appeal to the WPCA within 30 days
of the billing date, requesting a review of the use charge. This request
shall, where necessary, show the actual or estimated flow and/or strength
of the discharge in comparison with the values upon which the charge
is based, including how the measurements or estimates were made.
B.
In any instance in which the WPCA determines that
the parameters or characteristics upon which the sewer use charge
of any particular real property or structure is predicated are materially
different than the effluent actually being discharged into the sewerage
system such that the real property or structure in question would
actually bear more than a fair and proportionate share of the costs
of the municipal sewerage system, the WPCA may make an appropriate
adjustment or reduction in that property's or structure's sewer use
charge.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The invalidity of any portion of this regulation
shall not affect the remainder thereof, and this regulation may be
amended at such time or times, pursuant to statute, as the WPCA, in
its sole judgment, considers necessary.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Wherever reference is made to BHC or to the
Water Department herein, it shall mean the Bridgeport Hydraulic Water
Company, its affiliates, successors and assigns.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The Wastewater Operating Fund shall be audited
annually at the end of each fiscal year.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The Director shall ensure that a cost-of-service
study shall be performed not less than every two years.
As used in this Part 3, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The quantity of dissolved oxygen required for biochemical
oxidation of decomposable matter under aerobic conditions in a period
of five days at a temperature of 20° C.
All retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, laundries,
hotels, motels and other private business and service establishments.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The Director of Public Works of the Town of Stratford and/or
his duly authorized deputies, agents and representatives.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Owner of any single-family, multifamily, small commercial/industrial
or tax exempt user.
All noncommercial, noninstitutional and nonresidential users
or a user which is identified in the Standard Industrial Classification
Manual, 1972, Office of Management and Budget, as amended and supplemented,
under the following divisions: Division A-Agriculture, Forestry and
Fishing; Division B-Mining; Division D-Manufacturing; Division E-Transportation,
Communications, Electric, Gas and Sanitary; and Division I-Services.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
All social, charitable, religious, governmental and educational
activities and uses such as schools, churches, hospitals, nursing
homes, penal institutions and similar institutional users.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
A nonresidential user as identified in the standard Industrial
Classification Manual 1972, Office of Management and Budget, engaged
in commercial or industrial activities which discharges any waste
exceeding any of the following: A flow of 25,000 gallons per day,
a BOD of 300 milligrams per liter or suspended solids of 300 milligrams
per liter, or discharges wastes containing toxic, hazardous or injurious
materials as defined in Appendix A[1] or a combination of any of the preceding.
A nonresidential user as identified in the standard Industrial
Classification Manual 1972, Office of Management and Budget, engaged
in commercial or industrial activities which discharges any waste
exceeding any of the following: a flow of 25,000 gallons per day,
a BOD of 300 milligrams per liter or suspended solids of 300 milligrams
per liter; or discharges wastes containing toxic, hazardous or injurious
materials as defined in Appendix A[2] or a combination of any of the preceding.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Those funds dedicated and used for offsetting costs incurred
for treatment and disposal of wastewater and for upgrading and replacement
costs of the municipal sewerage system.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Those expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment,
accessories or appurtenances during the useful life of the treatment
works necessary to maintain the capacity and performance for which
such works are designed and constructed. The phrase "operation and
maintenance" includes replacement.
[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Any contributor to the Town's wastewater facilities whose
lot, parcel, real estate or building is used for domestic dwelling
purposes only. In multiple-family or mixed-use buildings, each dwelling
unit shall be considered a separate residential user.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Water-carried human wastes from sanitary conveniences such
as toilets, wash bowls, bathtubs and residential laundry facilities.
The operations, maintenance and replacement costs incurred
by the Sanitary Department to collect, treat and dispose of the sanitary
wastes, process wastes, industrial wastes and other wastes of the
user. The user charge of any user shall be directly proportional to
its use of the Town's sewage treatment collection and disposal services
when compared to the total operations, maintenance and replacement
costs incurred.
A collective term used to describe all the property involved
in wastewater treatment and disposal, including sewer lines and appurtenances,
pumping stations, treatment facilities and land.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The Superintendent of the Water Pollution Control Facility
of the Town of Stratford and/or his duly authorized deputies, agents
and representatives.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
Solids which either float on the surface of or are in suspension
in the waste discharge and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
A user which pays no ad valorem taxes or receives substantial
credits in paying such taxes, including but not limited to users exempt
from ad valorem taxes and all federal, state and local government
users, but excluding publicly owned facilities performing local governmental
functions which discharge solely domestic wastes.
Wastes from industrial and commercial sources which are toxic,
hazardous or injurious to the sewage treatment process and which are
identified in Appendix A.[3]
Any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling
and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid
nature, including intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection
systems, pumping, power and other equipment and their appurtenances;
extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof;
and any works, including site acquisition of the land that will be
an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate
disposal of residues resulting from such treatment. In addition, treatment
works means any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing,
storing, treating, separating or disposing of municipal waste, including
stormwater runoff or industrial waste, including waste in combined
stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
The Town of Stratford's Water Pollution Control Authority,
as authorized by Connecticut General Statutes § 7-246, shall
be the Town Council.
[Added 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-23]
The user charge system shall generate sufficient
revenue to offset the cost of all treatment works operation and maintenance
provided by the Town of Stratford. In the event that collections do
not finance the expenditures of the fund function, the Town Council
shall appropriate an amount sufficient to meet the financial requirements.
This regulation may be amended by the Town of
Stratford Town Council as it deems necessary, subject to the Charter
of the Town of Stratford and the General Statutes of the State of
Connecticut.
