§ 154-277. Sewer service charge.

(a)

Established. It is hereby determined to be necessary, in order to provide facilities for the protection of the public health, safety, welfare, and to comply with state and federal water quality laws and regulations for the protection of the quality of the waters of the state, to fix and collect charges upon all premises or facilities served by the water pollution control facilities of the city.

(b)

Uses of proceeds. The revenue received from the collection of these charges, as hereinafter authorized, together with other revenue derived from the operation of the system and from the sale of water, shall be deposited with the chief financial officer and credited to the water and sewer revenue fund and shall be used for the operation and maintenance of the water pollution control and water purification systems and incidental expenses connected therewith to (i) pay debt requirements on revenue bonds issued; (ii) provide funds for the planning, design, construction, improvement, repair and extension of the water pollution control and water purification systems, facilities and appurtenances used in connection with the operation of the systems; (iii) acquire necessary easements or the purchase of land; and (iv) provide funds for the necessary reserves for debt and improvements; however, said revenues shall not be used for the construction of lateral or storm sewers.

(c)

Determination of amounts. For the purposes provided in subparagraph (b) hereof, there is hereby charged and assessed to each premise or facility served by the water pollution control facilities of the city, or otherwise discharging wastewater, industrial wastes, water or liquids, either directly or indirectly into the water pollution control facilities, a sewer service charge and assessment payable as hereinafter provided, and in the amount determinable as follows:

(1)

The sewer service charge shall be based upon the quantity of water used by the premises or facility therein or thereon as measured by a water meter or meters there in use, or as otherwise currently established.

(2)

The sewer service charge shall consist of a charge per hundred cubic feet of water consumed, including adjustments thereto.

(3)

Water used from private sources shall be metered as required in subparagraph (d) of this section and shall be figured at prevailing city water rates and the sewer service charges shall be billed accordingly.

(d)

Independent water supply; installation of meter. In the event a lot, parcel of land, premises or facility discharging wastewater, industrial waste, water, or other liquids which either directly or indirectly enters into the city's water pollution control facilities, or ultimately enters the facilities, is supplied either in whole or in part with water from wells or any source other than the City Bureau of Operations - Drinking Water, those wells or other sources of supply shall be registered with the City Bureau of Operations - Drinking Water on or before the effective date of this article, and if not measured by a water meter, the owner or occupant shall, at his own cost, install and maintain a meter on the supplies in such a location and in such a manner as is satisfactory to the commissioner. These meters shall serve as a control for the establishment of the sewer service charge and shall be read monthly or bimonthly by employees of the City Bureau of Operations - Drinking Water. Rainwater catchment systems installed and operated pursuant to Atlanta City Code Section 1300 of Appendix C "Plumbing Code Amendments," Chapter I shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(e)

Additional meters. Where it can be shown to the satisfaction of the commissioner that a significant portion of the water used by customers, as measured by the water meter or meters, does not enter the water pollution control facilities, then that portion of water shall not be used for billing of the sewer service charge. The commissioner may require or permit the installation of additional meters or other devices as may be deemed necessary to establish that portion which does not enter the system.

(f)

Applicability of section. Where the commissioner determines that sewer service is available to any lot, parcel of land, premises, or facility, 60 days' notice will be given to the owner of such lot, parcel of land, premises, or facility directing connection to available sewer, and billing as provided in subparagraphs (a) through (e) above will thereafter be initiated unless an exemption is authorized as set forth in subparagraph (g) below.

(g)

Exemption authorized. The mayor or his designee is hereby authorized to waive 12 percent of the sewer service charges for those domestic customers in the city who make application for such waiver and who can show to the satisfaction of the commissioner by certification of a master plumber licensed in the City of Atlanta, that they are not connected to the city's water pollution control facilities. Said 12 percent constitutes that part of the sewer service charge imposed for the city's water pollution control facilities' operating costs that is directly associated with the treatment of wastewater.

The mayor is hereby authorized to waive the entire sewer service charge for those domestic customers in the city who make application for such waiver and who can show to the satisfaction of the commissioner by certification of a master plumber licensed in the city that they are not connected to the city's water pollution control facilities. This certification must state that the lowest floor of their residence which contains rest room facilities, cannot be served by gravity flow. The waiver, once granted, shall continue in force, unless revoked, until plumbing permits are issued by the city's plumbing inspector for connection to the sewer. Such waiver, when authorized by the mayor, shall become effective on the first day of the next billing cycle after the date of authorization. No waiver will be authorized if any portion of the residence is connected to the city's water pollution control facilities.

Sewer rates are hereby waived by 30 percent for domestic customers, aged 65 and older, with a maximum household income of $25,000.00 or less.

(Ord. No. 1998-71, § 2, 10-13-98; Ord. No. 2001-99, § 2, 12-11-01; Ord. No. 2003-83, § 8, 7-29-03; Ord. No. 2004-01, § 2, 1-9-04; Ord. No. 2004-05, § 2, 1-5-04; Ord. No. 2011-43(11-O-0740), § 2, 9-28-11)