Sewage Rate Resolution

Sewage Rate Resolution

Be it resolved BY THE Board of Trustees of the Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority as follows:

That in order to pay the expenses of conducting and managing the sewage system of the Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority and to make adequate provisions for payment of principal, interest, and other fund requirements of the Sewer Revenue Bonds, the following rates for the services of said system are hereby established the same to be effective January 1, 2018 or as otherwise noted and to be charged to and payable by all owners of property that have access to or are directly or indirectly connected to and from which sewage and/or other wastewaters are discharged to and through the sewage system of the City of Martins Ferry and the Villages of Bellaire, Bridgeport and Brookside and/or sewage and sewage treatment facilities of the Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Sewer System”):

  1. Residential Connections

    Except as hereinafter provided, sewer charges for residential establishments shall be based upon actual water consumption. Sewer charges based upon water consumption shall be billed at the following rate per thousand gallons of water consumed during the month for which the billing is rendered:

    $5.20 per thousand gallons per month (effective 1/1/2024)

    Provided, however, that the minimum sewer billing rendered to a residential establishment shall be the highest of the following:

    $29.00 per month (based upon 2,750 gallons minimum consumption) (effective 1/1/2024)

  2. Non-Residential Connections including Schools, Commercial and Industrial Establishments, Municipal and Public Buildings, Hospitals, Churches and Institutions.

    Except as hereinafter provided, sewer charges for non-residential establishments shall be based upon actual water consumption. Sewer charges based upon water consumption shall be billed at the following rate per thousand gallons of water consumed during the month for which the billing is rendered:

    $5.20 per thousand gallons per month (effective 1/1/2024)

  3. Provided, however, that the minimum sewer billing rendered to a residential establishment shall be the highest of the following:

    $29.00 per month (based upon 2,750 gallons minimum consumption) (effective 1/1/2024)
  4. The volume of water to be calculated for billing sewer charges shall include any and all water purchased from public and/or private water companies and all water obtained from other sources as determined by meters installed by the property owner as may be required and approved by the Authority, or by estimates or measurements made by the Authority where the Authority finds metering impractical.
  5. If water consumption is estimated for more than one (1) month or unavailable at time of billing a five dollar charge will be applied until the village, city, or county can provide an actual read. In the case where reads are taken quarterly, an estimated read for more than one (1) quarter or unavailable at time of billing will incur a five dollar charge until the village, city, or county can provide an actual read.
  6. The Authority does hereby establish that, unless otherwise amended, added to, or deleted from, as provided herein, the following shall be considered as being the average residential waste discharge in the Authority’s wastewater service area:
    1. An average flow of 67 gallons per day at a loading of 200 milligrams per liter of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 250 milligrams per liter of suspended solids (SS), per capita.
    2. A residential user equivalency is established as 100 gallons per day dry weather flow.
  7. All persons discharging industrial waste into the public sewers shall be subjected to a surcharge, in addition to any other rate or user charge, if those wastes have a concentration greater than the concentrations established in item E above. The amount of surcharge shall reflect the costs incurred by the Authority in removing the excess contributions of BOD, SS, and other pollutants. Said surcharge shall include a proportionate share of all costs of the operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment facilities based upon the average useful life of thirty (30) years.
  8. The excess pounds of BOD and SS shall be computed by multiplying the user’s sewage flow volume in million gallons per day by the constant 8.345 and then multiplying this product by the difference between the user’s concentration of BOD and SS and the concentration in item F above. This product will then be multiplied by the number of days in the billing period to determine the surcharge. Concentration figures in calculations shall be daily averages.
  9. The rates of surcharge for each of the aforementioned constituents shall be:
    1. For biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): $0.325 per pound per volume of flow.
    2. For suspended solids (SS): $0.275 per pound per volume of flow.
  10. The rates of surcharge shall be reviewed annually by the Authority to determine whether or not they are sufficient to defray all costs as determined from the wastewater treatment facility records. If the difference between revenues derived from rates of surcharge and the total cost is sufficient to justify an adjustment in the rates, such adjustment shall be made by the Authority.
  11. General
    1. Definitions: For the purpose hereof, the terms “Dwelling Unit”, “Commercial Establishments”, “Industrial Establishments”, and “Schools” shall be defined as follows:
      1. “Dwelling Unit”, – – Any room, group of rooms, house trailer, or other enclosure either occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or other group of persons living together or by persons living alone shall be classified as a dwelling unit. Each dwelling in a double house, in a row of connecting houses, or in an apartment shall be billed as a separate unit.
      2. “Commercial Establishments” – – Any room, group of rooms, building, or other enclosure used for the sale or distribution of any product, commodity, article, or service and shall specifically include churches, hospitals, club rooms, professional offices, banks, or other room, group of rooms, building, or other enclosure not included in the definition of dwelling unit or industrial establishments.
      3. “Industrial Establishments” – – Any premises used wholly or in part for the manufacturing, processing, cleaning, laundering, or assembly of any product, commodity, or article or any other premises from which process wastes as distinct from domestic sewage are discharged therefrom shall be classified as an industrial establishment.
      4. “Schools” – – Any room, group of rooms, building, or other enclosure used for the purpose of teaching and learning. Specifically included are grade schools, junior high schools, high schools, and athletic fields.
  12. Billings, Penalties, and Discounts:
    1. All sewer billings shall be rendered in arrears of the service provided for monthly service periods.
    2. All sewer billings shall be due and payable upon presentation and if not paid within 20 days of the date of the billing, a penalty of fifteen percent (15%) shall be added to the billing.
    3. Each sewer charge levied pursuant to this resolution is hereby made a lien upon the property charged therewith; and, if the same is not paid within 90 days after it is due and payable, it shall be certified to the Auditor of Belmont County who shall place the same upon the tax duplicate and it shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes upon real property. A thirty dollar ($30.00) certification fee shall be assessed on each delinquent account being certified.
    4. All properties will be billed at the current sewer minimum. Eastern Ohio Regional Sewer Authority is ready to serve for residential and non-residential properties. In order to stop the billing process, see #6.
    5. Property owners shall be responsible for reporting any change in status of property. Sewer Caps must be inspected by EORWA before discontinuation of sewer charges. Please see Attachment A for guidelines.
    6. Before discontinuation of sewer charges, the dwelling must be inspected by EORWA to insure compliance with OEPA and EORWA guidelines. A $50 inspection fee and any unpaid balance must be paid before scheduling an inspection. No retroactive credits will be given for non-compliance.
    7. Property owners shall be responsible for payment of service whether bill is sent to service address or elsewhere. No duplicate bills will be sent.
    8. EORWA is not responsible for prepayment balances. Any overpayment will be applied to future monthly billings until the prepayment is exhausted. No refunds will be issued.
    9. In the event a property is transferred all unpaid balances shall follow the service address for payment; any prepayments or unpaid balances shall be handled at transfer or closing and are not the responsibility of EORWA.
    10. Any bill reprint mailed will be charged $1.00 to the account printed.
    11. EORWA shall process returned check, ACH payments, and credit card payments based on notification from EORWA’s bank. A $25.00 returned check fee will also be assessed. Penalties are assessed if the returned payment is past due. A letter is issued to the person who has presented the payment.
    12. Estimating Sewage Flows: Where meters are broken, inoperative, or do not exist, the sewage flow will be estimated in accordance with the “Suggested Sewage Flow Guide” as prepared by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
    13. The process stated in L (12) will be suspended until further notice.

 

Capping of Sanitary Sewer Laterals on Private Property

The capping of the sanitary sewer line servicing a structure can be done in one of two ways.  One way would to locate the sanitary sewer lateral on the property and cap it.  The other method would be to cap the sanitary sewer line in the basement or crawl space of the structure.

Capping Sanitary Lateral on the Property

The sanitary sewer lateral that services the structure would need to be located on the property and dug up and exposed.  Once exposed the sewer lateral will need to be cut and a sanitary tee arrangement installed to the surface as indicated in the attached detail.  The completed installation must be inspected by Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority personnel before backfilling of the pipe.

Capping Sewer Line in Basement or Crawl Space

The main sewer trunk line in the basement or crawl space will need to be located and verify that all drains leaving the structure go into this line.  Once line is located it will need to be cut and an appropriate compression or glue type plug depending on the pipe material will need installed on the pipe that will prevent sewage or water into the sewer lateral and shall be secured against back pressure.  If the floor drains in the basement area of the structure are not located prior to the sewer line cap, then all floor drains must also be capped or plugged to prevent sewage or water entering the sewer lateral.  All caps and plugs must be inspected by Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority personnel.  

If the downspouts on the structure are also tied into the sanitary sewer line, they must also be removed from the sanitary sewer and capped off at ground level.  The capping of downspouts shall also be capped that will prevent the entry of dirt, roots and groundwater into the sewer lateral.

sewer cap lateral detail