Town of Bedford, NH Article IX Sewer Rental Charges

§ 212-104 Statement of purpose.

A. The Town of Bedford has developed and is implementing a program for the construction and operation of wastewater treatment facilities. A regional treatment plant and pumping station have been constructed by the City of Manchester and a system of interceptor sewers has been partially completed by the Town of Bedford. Under the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit issued to the Town of Bedford by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the treatment and disposal works became partially operational on April 1, 1984. Under the requirements of said permit, the Town is proceeding with the completion of said program.

B. The purpose of this article is to ensure that all persons whose mains enter main drains, common sewers, and treatment facilities and all persons whose lands receive or will receive a special benefit from said wastewater treatment facilities shall pay their just share of the costs of said facilities as hereinafter provided.

C. An additional purpose of this article is to comply with the user charge requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Act Amendments of 1972 (PL 92-500), the Clean Water Act of 1977 (PL 95-217), and amendments thereto.

§ 212-105 System of charges established.

Pursuant to RSA 149-1 and the current intermunicipal agreement, and amendment thereof, between the Town of Bedford and the City of Manchester for wastewater service, a system of sewer rental charges is hereby established, under the authority given at § 212-3, and assessed for paying the cost of construction, payment of interest on debt incurred, management, maintenance, replacement, operation, and repair of the Town's sewer system and appurtenant structures, as well as the Town's share of the City's wastewater treatment facilities. Said sewer rental charges shall consist of a service charge and a sewer user charge.

§ 212-106 Responsibility of owners for payment of charges.

Sewer rental charges for residential premises, commercial establishments, and industrial establishments shall be paid by the owner of any such structure containing one or more dwelling units, commercial establishments, or industrial establishments from which structure sewage discharges into the Town sewer system.

§ 212-107 Occupied or unoccupied premises; multiple dwelling units.

A. Payable by owner. Service charges shall be payable by the owner of the real estate, whether or not the premises are occupied. All service charges shall be at rates provided herein.

B. Multiple-dwellings units. In the case of structures containing multiple-dwelling units, or any combination of dwelling units, commercial establishments, or industrial establishments, a separate service charge shall be payable for each dwelling unit, commercial, and industrial establishment.

§ 212-108 User charges.

User charges for residential and commercial premises shall be based on the consumption of water on premises connected with the Town sewer system.

A. Computation of charges. In computing charges under the user charge formula for residential and commercial users, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids (SS) content are fixed at 250 mg/l.

B. Basis of charges. User charges are based on the volume and strength of wastewater discharged by users.

C. Measurements of BOD and SS content. Strength shall be determined from the BOD and SS content of the wastewater as determined by periodic composite sampling by the Town.

D. Samplings. Said periodic composite sampling shall be conducted by or under the supervision of the Chief Sanitary Engineer of the City of Manchester, as an authorized representative to the Town, to an extent that will permit a reasonable determination of BOD and SS.

§ 212-109 Classes of building permit; application for sewer permit.

A. Building permits: Class A and Class B. There shall be two classes of building permits:

(1) Class A.1 for residential service and A.2 for multiple-dwelling units.

(2) Class B service to establishments producing commercial and industrial wastes.

B. Application for sewer permit. In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the Town. The application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgement of the Town.

C. Charges due at application. A permit and appropriate connection charge, as determined by the Town Council, for any building sewer connection permit shall be paid to the Town of Bedford at the time the application is filed.

D. Proposed building sewers.

(1) Building sewers proposed in new building areas, such as in subdivisions and in commercial and industrial areas, shall conform to these requirements.

(2) All costs associated with the design, design review by the Town, and construction shall be borne by the builder, developer, and/or owner.

(3) The Town may take over ownership and operation of the sewer system in an accepted street once the system is in operation.

(4) All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Town from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

§ 212-110 Charges and costs.

Charges on metered and nonmetered residential and commercial users and sewer connection charges are adopted by resolution of the Town Council from time to time and are on file in the Clerk's office.

§ 212-111 Sewer Fund.

The funds received from the collection of sewer rental charges shall be kept as a separate and distinct fund which shall be known as the "Sewer Fund." Any surplus in such fund may, as determined by the Town Council, be used for the enlargement or replacement of the wastewater treatment facilities. Such sewer rental charges may be used to pay previous expansion or improvements of wastewater treatment facilities.

§ 212-112 Billing period.

Billing periods for sewer rental charges shall correspond with billing periods of the Manchester Water Works for the same customers. Bills shall be itemized and shall specify a due date which shall be no less than 25 days from the date when bills are mailed.

§ 212-113 Late payment charge.

All bills shall be payable on or before the due date specified in the bill. Interest shall be charged at 12% per annum on all bills not paid by the due date. The Town Council shall review and adjust the requirements and charges of the sewer rental charge system on an as-needed basis.