Town of Smithsburg, MD Article VII Water System Allocation Fees

§ 390-18 New hookups.

The following charges shall be imposed:

A. A water allocation benefit charge in the amount of $2,600 for new water hookups on a per-domestic-equivalent-unit basis (200 gallons per day), with residential usage being assessed at the number of residences, including each apartment or housing unit as a separate unit, to be supplied with water service by that hookup or connection to the Town's water supply distribution system.

B. A water allocation benefit charge in the amount of $260 in connection with a permit for the installation, construction or erection of a nonreplacement swimming pool (i.e., one of the same or substantially similar capacity as its predecessor permitted pool) located either within the Town limits or on premises supplied with water service by hookup or connection to the Town's water supply distribution system.

C. A water allocation benefit charge in the amount of $2,600 for new water hookups on a per-domestic-equivalent-unit basis (200 gallons per day/per annum) for nonresidential usage. Nonresidential usage shall be assessed for the equivalent whole number of domestic equivalent units (200 gallons per day/per annum) of anticipated or actual usage on a calendar-year annual basis, whichever is greater. Nonresidential usage may result in additional assessments for additional domestic equivalent units as water usage of the nonresidential use increases or if the initial anticipated assessment was set at too low a number of domestic equivalent units. Additional assessments are due and payable upon billing. The Town shall make the initial assessment after consultation with the new user. For assessment purposes, a portion of a domestic equivalent unit counts as a whole unit.

§ 390-19 Additional charges.

A. A water allocation benefit charge shall be imposed in the amount of $2,600 per domestic equivalent unit for nonresidential or residential, or any combination thereof, water hookups or usage, including the conversion of, alteration of, or additions to residentially used property already connected to the Town's water system, on a per-domestic-equivalent-unit basis (200 gallons per day/per annum) with residential usage being assessed at the number of residences, including each apartment or housing unit as a separate unit, to be supplied with water service by that hookup or connection to the Town's water supply distribution system. The Town shall make the initial assessment after consultation with the user. For assessment purposes, a portion of a domestic equivalent unit counts as a whole unit.

B. The resulting residential and nonresidential usage for property which was a conversion of, alteration of, or an addition to residentially used property already connected to the Town's water system shall be assessed for the equivalent number of domestic equivalent units (200 gallons per day/per annum) which is in excess of one domestic equivalent unit. Each residence, including each apartment or housing unit as a separate unit, shall be assessed as a domestic equivalent unit. Nonresidential usage shall be assessed for the equivalent number of domestic equivalent units (200 gallons per day/per annum) of anticipated or actual usage on a calendar-year annual basis, whichever is greater. Nonresidential usage may result in additional assessments for domestic equivalent units as water usage of the nonresidential use increases or if the initial anticipated assessment was set at too low a number of domestic equivalent units. Additional assessments are due and payable upon billing. The Town shall make the initial assessment after consultation with the user.

§ 390-20 Nonresidential or mixed users.

A. Nonresidential users with more than one connection to the Town's water supply system, with the approval of the Mayor and Council, may elect to treat all of their water usage from the Town's water system as one account for purposes of establishing and maintaining the appropriate water benefit allocation charge, except that in no case may a separate connection be made without the fee for a least one domestic equivalent unit being assessed over and above the previously existing usage.

B. Nonresidential users of the Town's water supply system who have experienced water usage in four of the last eight billing quarter cycles prior to July 1, 2002, equal to at least three domestic equivalent units (200 gallons per day/per annum) shall have assigned to their account a number of domestic equivalent units (200 gallons per day/per annum) equal to their highest total usage in either the last four quarters prior to July 1, 2002, or the four quarters prior to July 1, 2001, plus an allowance of 15%, but not less than one domestic equivalent unit nor more than three domestic equivalent units. The resulting annual usage of water shall then be converted to an annual usage of water on a gallonage basis per year, which figure shall be rounded up to the nearest 1,000 gallons. Annual usage in excess of that resulting annual usage shall result in the assessment of the then-current water allocation benefit charge per domestic equivalent unit (200 gallons per day/per annum).

C. In the event that a nonresidential or mixed-use user of water exceeds that user's allocation of water on a per-gallon/per-day annual basis for consumption on a calendar-year basis, the user shall be charged an additional water allocation benefit charge at the rate of $13 per gallon. That user's allocation shall then be adjusted to reflect that additional purchase of water allocation for future years.