water and sewer

Rate Schedule

Effective December 14, 2007

EXHIBIT “A”

Part 1 – Sewer Service

Section A – Definitions

            A “UNIT” shall be defined as follows:

1.      Residential:

(a)   Each single family dwelling.

(b)   Each single family apartment dwelling in a multiple family structure or structures.

2.      For users other than residential:, including each tenant in a non-residential building, an Equivalent Dwelling Unit of    sewage flow shall be deemed to equal  139 gallons per day of sewage flow.

Customer – shall be the owner of the property.  For existing multi-family or non-residential customers with multiple meters the MUA will continue as a courtesy to send the bills to the Tenant with a copy to the Owner.  The Owner is responsible for payment of the bills.  If the bill(s) are unpaid a lien will be placed on the property.

BOD shall mean the capacity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20 degrees Centigrade.

Suspended Solids shall mean solids that either float on the surface or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and those which are removable by laboratory filtration.

Chlorine Demand is the difference between the amount of chlorine applied to a treated supply and the amount of free combined or total available chlorine remaining at the end of the contract period.

Grease: Grease is defined to include the accumulation of oils, fats, cellulose, starch, proteins, wax, or grease, whether emulsified or not, in the Sewer System of the Authority. These are substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit and one hundred-fifty (150 Fahrenheit) (0 degrees – 65 degrees Celsius).

Grease Generating Establishments: Grease generating establishments, shall mean all retail food establishments, catering establishments, commercial food preparation facilities, meat processing facilities, and other establishments that may be capable of accumulating and discharging grease into the Sewer System.

Owner: Owner shall mean individual, person, firm, company, association, society, corporation, or group upon whose property the building or structure is located or will be constructed.  In the event that one entity owns the building while another entity owns the property then the Owner is the latter of the two.

Section B – Annual Service Charges

Classification                                                             Minimum Annual Service Charge

1.      Residential (as defined in Section A (1) above).                                              

     $259.00per unit

2.       All users other than residential:

(a)   For the first unit or portion thereof, a minimum annual service charge of $259.00.

(b)   For those users whose quarterly sewage flow exceeds 12,684 gallons based on metered water consumption or actual sewage flow the rate shall be as follows:

(c)   All water consumption readings shall be those obtained by the Authority from its own billing records where the Authority is supplying the water, or from the water company furnishing water to the respective units. If a customer obtains its water supply from a private well or an un-metered public water supply, then the user shall install a meter, location of which is to be approved by the Authority. In the event the user fails to install said meter after receiving notice from the Authority, then such installation shall be made by the Authority. In either case, the costs of the meter and the installation thereof shall be borne by the user. The meter shall be of the type approved by the Authority and may be purchased from the Authority. Prices of meters will be furnished upon request to the Authority.

(d)   In the event that estimated usage should prove to be inaccurate, the Authority reserves the right to recalculate prior Annual Service Charges with the difference charged to or credited to the user.

(e)   In the event a customer claims a substantial water use, the waste product of which does not pass into the sewer system, the customer shall have an option of specifically metering the waste usage which does not flow into the sewer system and the water so used shall be deducted from the total water usage in computing annual water consumption. All customers shall have the option of installing a sewer meter at the customer’s cost and expense and in the event of such an installation, the readings on said sewer meter shall be substituted for the annual water consumption as set forth in subsection (b) hereof.

(f)     An industrial cost recovery surcharge shall be collected by the Authority for those users whose sewage characteristics exceed one or more of the following standards:

1.      Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) greater than 200 parts per million (PPM).

2.      Suspended solids greater than 250 PPM.

3.      Chlorine demand in excess of 15 PPM.

For such users the industrial cost recovery surcharge shall be based on the Schedule of Rates charged by Middlesex County Utilities Authority plus a twenty-five percent administrative fee.

Where the industrial cost recovery surcharge is charged to another municipality, the charge shall be based on the Schedule of Rates charged by Middlesex County Utilities Authority plus a ten percent administrative fee.

The characteristics of the sewage waste shall be determined from actual samplings or other approved means, and shall be based upon analysis made in accordance with the procedure outlined in the latest edition of “Standard Methods of Analysis of Water and Sewage” published by the American Public Health Association. The Authority may require the installation of automatic samplers at the cost of the owner to obtain representative samples during a calendar quarter, or as may be required. The cost of sampling and analysis will be borne by the customer.

(g)   Control of Grease. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the Sewer System, any water or waste containing more than one hundred (100) PPM by weight of fats, oils or grease.

In the event it is determined that blockage of an Authority sewer main is a result of the discharge from any grease generating establishment, all costs incurred by the Authority will be charged to the Owner of said grease generating establishment. Such costs can include but are not limited to, cost of clearing the blockage; damages to sewer lines; administrative, legal, and engineering costs; cleanup of pollution to surrounding soils or water; and reimbursement of any penalties imposed by regulatory agencies.

In addition to such other remedies as may be provided by law for violation of these regulations, the Authority may add such bacteria formulations to the Sewer System servicing grease generating establishments regulated herein. The Authority may charge the cost thereof as an additional sewer use charge to the Owner who is in violation of any provision of this regulation.

In the event of any violation of this regulation or of any improper unauthorized use of any portion of the sewer system by any owner, then the Owner shall in the discretion of the Executive Director be penalized a maximum of One Hundred and 00/100 ($100.00) Dollars for each violation or improper unauthorized use. Each Day in which a violation or improper unauthorized use occurs, shall be deemed a separate offense. For purposes of this regulation, two (2) test readings showing more than 100 parts per million by weight of fats, oils or grease within a calendar month shall be deemed to be presumptive evidence of a violation occurring in each day of that calendar month.

All penalties are due and payable within thirty (30) days from the date that the Owner is notified in writing of the violations charged and the penalty to be imposed. In the event the penalty is not paid as required under these rules, then the Authority in its discretion may take all actions available to it for the non-payment of sewer charges as provided in N.J.S.A. 40:14B-1 et seq. For purposes of these regulations, the Owner shall be responsible for the actions of any tenant using the sewer system.

The penalties imposed in this section shall be cumulative to other remedies afforded to the Authority by statute.

Section C – Payment of Annual Service Charges

1.      All sewer service charges are payable quarterly in advance.

2.      All charges shall be payable on or before the due date of the bill. Any charges which are not paid by the due date will be charged a penalty of (1%) per month or fraction of a month, back to the billing date. Any partial payment of a bill will be applied first to interest charges, then to the oldest service charges.

3.   Any non residential account which remains unpaid after the due date will be sent a reminder.  If a non-residential account is still unpaid at sixty (60) days after the date due, a notice will be sent giving fifteen (15) days to make payment or services will be discontinued. If payment is not received within fifteen (15) days service will be shut off.

Section D – Connection Fees and Charges

1.      The initial fees for the right to connect directly or indirectly to the Authority’s sewer system shall include a connection charge or fee per unit, as well as fees for applications, review, and inspection of work to be accomplished by the applicant in keeping with the Authority’s “Rules and Regulations Governing Applications to the Monroe Township MUA for Construction of Comprehensive Sewer Systems in the Township of Monroe.” These connection fees, which are one-time initial service charges for the right to connect to the Authority’s sewer system are calculated in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:14B-22 and are an integral part of this Rate Schedule.

2.      The connection fee for each unit shall be $2,645.  Connection fees for single family homes not part of a real estate development are payable at the option of the applicant in two installments with the initial installment paid prior to the time of the connection and the second payment due within one year.  Interest shall accrue and be due to the Authority at 1% per month on the unpaid balance.  In the case where the system is under construction but not yet available for connection, connection fees can be paid at the option of the applicant in two (2) installments without interest. 

In the case of real estate developers, the connection fees for any development of ten (10) or less units shall be payable at the time of final approval.

In any development of more than ten (10) but less than forty (40) units, connection fees for twenty-five percent (25%) of the units shall be payable at the time of the final approval with the balance of connection fees payable in advance of building permit.

In any development of more than forty (40) units, connection fees for the first ten (10) units shall be payable at the time of final approval with the balance of connection fees payable in groups of ten (10) units at a time in advance of the building permit.

3.      For a user other than residential with estimated sewage flows in excess of 139 gallons per day the connection fee shall be based on the number of units as defined in Section A (2) above. Fractional number of units shall be calculated to the next highest unit.

4.      Where a connection to the sewer system is to be made after construction of mains has been completed and sewer service is available to the user, then in addition to the connection fee, the applicant shall pay for the cost of construction and inspection from the main to the curb, such construction to be performed by an approved contractor and inspection by the MUA.

5.      No connection to the Authority’s sewer system shall be made until compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section have been met, and no excavation shall be back-filled until inspection has been completed by the duly designated representative of the Authority.

Section E – Filing, Review and Inspection Fees

1.      Where mains are to be constructed by anyone other than the Authority, the applicant shall make application and pay fees for the time of Authority personnel on an hourly basis to draw down against the deposit as listed blow:

a)     Application for Review of Preliminary Plans:

Minor Subdivision Fee ………………………………. $ 250.00

Major Subdivision or Major Site Plan-Deposit ……. $ 450.00 minimum  or $ 7.25 per unit whichever is greater.

b)     Application for Tentative Approval:

Review Fee – Deposit ………

1-1/2 % of estimated construction cost or $450 minimum.

c)      Application for Final Approval:

Review Fee – Deposit ………

1-1/2 % of estimated construction cost

 d) Inspection Fee – Deposit ……

 5% of estimated construction cost

e) Application for extensions of approval must be accompanied by a re-                                                              view fee deposit of $290.00. Application for revisions after submittal and initial review must be accompanied by a review fee deposit of $450.00.

f)         Request for USEPA grant waiver or mapping revision must be made by the Owner of the property.  A $363.30 processing fee made payable to MTMUA must accompany the request.       

            If the deposit is depleted before completion of review or inspection, the applicant shall deposit an additional amount to complete the review or inspection as estimated by the Authority Engineer within five (5) days of notification or all review and inspection will cease at the end of five (5) days after notification. Any deposit monies not used will be returned to the applicant upon request after the completion of the project.  The Authority will retain sufficient funds to conduct an inspection at the end of the maintenance period.

            The amount charged by the Authority for review and/or inspection shall be calculated by the Authority on an annual basis after the adoption of the Authority’s budget for the coming fiscal year, and shall be based on the hourly salary cost to the Authority plus the cost of fringe benefits payable to said individual and the cost of the overhead of the Authority allocable to that employee.

2.      All persons wishing to connect to the sewer system are required to make application for connection under the terms of the preceding paragraph and pay the required fees as outlined in that paragraph.

2A. Each time there is a change in the owner or tenant of a non-residential unit,

     the owner shall file an application for approval.

Section F – Rates Charged to Customers Serviced by Other Entities

            Rates charged to customers who are serviced by other entities through contract between the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority and that entity, shall be at that rate which is set forth in the contract with the entity, plus a twenty-five percent administrative cost unless prohibited by the contract with the other entity. 

SECTION G- RESERVATION, RIGHT TO MODIFY

            The Board reserve the rights to modify or change any of the foregoing rules or make such addition, by rules and regulation, as maybe found essential in the protection of the public interests and the management of the Department and to impose such additional restrictions as may be deemed necessary.

If any of the above regulations is declared or held to be unconstitutional or legally inoperative, no other portion of this regulation shall be affected, but the unconstitutional or inoperative provision shall be rescinded and remaining provisions of this regulation shall remain in effect.

Part II – Water Service

Section A – Definitions:

A.     “UNIT” shall be defined as follows:

1.      Residential

a)     Each single family dwelling

b)     Each single family apartment dwelling in a multiple family structure or structures.

2.      Other than Residential: includes each tenant in a non-residential building, One Equivalent Dwelling Unit of potable water shall equal 207 gallons per day of estimated water consumption or fraction thereof.  In a building with more than one tenant or occupant, each separate tenant or occupant shall be calculated separately.

3.      IRRIGATION: One equivalent unit of water used for irrigation shall equal 994 gallons per day of water consumed or fraction thereof.  Connection fees set forth in Section I shall be applicable.

Section B – Fixed Service Charges For Water

1.      All metered general water service users shall pay a fixed service charge based on the size of each connection installed, in addition to the charges for the quantity of water used, if any.

Section C – Rates for Water Consumed

1.      In addition to the fixed service charge set forth above, a charge will be made for all water used as registered by the meter.

SECTION D

1.      irrigation charges-potable water

Customers with a separate meter for irrigation connected to a potable water distribution main shall pay a fixed service charge based on the size of each connection installed, in addition to the charges for the quantity of water used, if any. 

Rates for Water used

In addition to the fixed service charge set forth above, a charge will be made for all water used as registered by the meter.

2.  irrigation charges-non potable water main

a.      Residential customers with a separate meter for irrigation,       connected to a non-potable water main charges will be based only on the amount of water actually used.  No fixed service charge and no connection fee.  A rate of $2.00 per 1,000 gallons will apply.

b.       Commercial customers with a separate meter for irrigation connected to a non-potable distribution main, charges will be based only on the amount of water actually used.  No minimum service charge and no connection fee.  A rate of $2.73 per 1,000 gallons will apply.

Section E – Private Fire Protection Service

1.      Annual stand-by water charges for sprinkler systems.

            Additional charge for each sprinkler head is $1.00

*non-residential only; there will be no stand-by charge for residential fire

connections 2” and smaller

2.      The annual charge for each hydrant and/or Siamese connection shall be $275.00

3.      No charge shall be made for water used in the extinguishing of fires.   Water for any other purpose shall not be drawn from a private fire service connection.

4.      Fire protection shall be provided by separate connection to the Authority’s mains.

Section F – Public Fire Protection Service

1.      The annual charge for each hydrant shall be $275.00

2.      No charge shall be made for water used in the extinguishing of fires.

Section G – Miscellaneous

1.   A charge of $35.00 shall be made for each turn-off or turn-on during regular working hours. Any turn-on or turn-of required outside regular working hours shall be charged at $50.00 each unless both turn-on and turn-off are scheduled two days in advance no more than one hour apart.  A minimum notice of seven (7) days for each turn-off and/or turn-on must be given to the Authority. Under no circumstances shall any person not authorized by the Authority open or close the curb stops or valves in any Authority water line.

1.   The Authority reserves the right to install temporary meters during construction of any residential or commercial structure.  The fee for installation of temporary meters shall be $100.00.

2.   Where the user requires connection to the water system after construction of mains has been completed and water service is available to the user, then in addition to the connection fee, the applicant shall pay for the cost of construction from the main to the curb, such construction to be performed by the Authority and/or an approved contractor. These costs shall be as follows:

     When the tap is on the same side of the road as the service:

When the tap is on the opposite side of the road from the service:

The above fees are based on a 4 hours timeframe.  If project goes over 4 hours then hourly rate of $223.00 is applied.  These fees includes meter pit and installation costs.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to secure necessary road opening permit, to excavate, backfill and restore the excavated area according to MTMUA Rules and Regulations.

3.      The use of water for building purposes, irrigation, or other construction, shall be metered at a hydrant to be determined by the Authority.  At the time of application, the user shall pay submit a deposit for the meter as follows:

In addition, there shall be a rental charge for the hydrant meter of $43.60 per month or part thereof, payable monthly in advance. Each meter holder, by the 5^th day of each month shall return the meter to the Authority for them to read.  If the meter holder fails to provide a meter by the date specified then the meter will be confiscated and the deposit will be forfeited.  The charge for water usage will be made on the basis of Section C hereof. The application for such water services shall be made by the owner of the property on which said water is to be used. The Authority shall have its statutory lien on such property for the collection of said charges.

4.      In the event that any water meter shall become damaged or otherwise inoperable during any billing period, the bill for that billing period shall be based on an estimated use of water.

5.      In any case, where a water meter of the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority has been adjusted, damaged, or tampered with, the customer on whose premises said meter is located shall be charged a cost recovery charge which shall be billed as part of his regular billing on the next regular billing date after said adjusting, tampering or damage shall have been discovered. Any person found tampering or unauthorized use of water by way of using of fitting known as “Jumper”, “Spacer” or “Spreader” shall be billed a recovery charge plus water usage charge to be determined by the Authority.

6.      Access to the premises.  Upon presentation of badge or credentials, the authorized MUA employee shall be granted access to the meter at reasonable hours of the day to inspect the meter and perform other duties as may deem necessary.  Any person who may obstruct or oppose the Authority in making such inspection or other work relative to the water service, shall bear the cost of having a meter pit installed.  If the cost of the installation remains unpaid, the Authority shall have its statutory lien on the property for the collection of said charges.

7.      When the Authority performs a bacteriological test on new water lines, there shall be a fee of $100.00 per test, payable in advance. 

Section H – Payment

1.      All water fixed service charges are payable quarterly in advance and water usage charges shall be billed in the next quarter.

2.      All charges shall be payable on or before the due date of the bill. Any charges which are not paid by the due date will be charged a penalty of one percent (1%) per month or fraction of a month, back to the billing date. Any partial payment of a bill will be applied first to interest charges, then to the oldest service charges.

3.      Any non-residential account which remains unpaid after the due date will be sent a reminder; if the account is still unpaid at sixty (60) days after the due date, a notice will be sent giving fifteen (15) days to make payment or services will be discontinued. If payment is not received within fifteen (15) days water service will be discontinued.

Section I – Connection Fees and Charges

1.      The initial fees for the right to connect directly or indirectly to the Authority’s water system shall include a connection charge or fee as well as fees for application review and inspection of work to be accomplished by the applicant in keeping with the requirements of the Authority’s Rules and Regulations. These connection fees, which are one-time initial service charges for the right to connect to the Authority’s water system, are calculated in accordance with NJSA 40:14B-22 and are an integral part of this Rate Schedule.

2.      The potable water connection fee for each unit shall be $2,922.00 and the irrigation connection fee shall be $0.00.  Connection fees for single family homes not part of a real estate development are payable at the option of the applicant in two (2) installments with the initial installation paid prior to the time of the connection and the second payment due within one year.  Interest shall accrue and be due to the Authority at 1% per month on the unpaid balance. In case the system is under construction but not yet available for connection, connection fees can be paid at the option of the applicant in two (2) installments without interest. In the case of real estate developers, the connection fees for the development shall be payable at the time of final approval.

            In any development of more than ten (10) units but less than forty (40) units, connection fees for twenty five percent (25%) of the units shall be payable at the time of final approval with the balance of connection fees payable in advance of the building permit.

In any development of more then forty (40) units, connection fees for the first ten (10) units shall be payable at the time of final approval with the balance of connection fees payable in groups of ten (10) units at a time in advance of the building permit.

3.      For a user other than residential with estimated potable water consumption in excess of 207 gallons per day and/or 994 gallons per day for irrigation, then the connection fee shall be based on the number of units as defined in Section A (2) above.  Fractional number of units shall be calculated to the next highest unit.

4.   The Authority reserves the right to examine plans for all connections and to specify the connection size required. The gallonage used to determine the size of the connection shall be based on estimated annual water consumption as calculated by the applicant’s engineer and approved by the Authority Engineer.

5.   Where a connection to the water system is to be made after construction of mains has been completed and water service is available to the user, then in addition to the connection fee, the applicant shall pay for the cost of construction and inspection from the main to the curb, such construction to be performed by an approved contractor and inspection by the MUA

6.   No connection into the Authority’s water system shall be made until compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section have been met, and no excavation shall be back-filled until inspection has been completed by the duly designated representative of the Authority.

Section J – Filing, Review, and Inspection Fees

            Where mains are to be constructed by anyone other than the Authority, the application shall make application and pay fees for the time of Authority personnel on an hourly basis down against the deposit as listed below:

a)      Application for Review of Preliminary Plans:

 Minor Subdivision Fee ………………………………. $250.00

 Major Subdivision or Major Site Plan-Deposit ……. $ 450.00 mini mum  or $ 7.25 per unit whichever is greater.

b)      Application for Tentative Approval:

 Review Fee – Deposit ………

1-1/2 % of estimated construction cost or $450 minimum.

c)      Application for Final Approval:

Review Fee – Deposit ………

1-1/2 % of estimated construction cost

     Inspection Fee – Deposit ……

                                    5% of estimated construction cost

            Applications for extensions of approval must be accompanied by a review fee deposit of $290.00. Application for revisions after submittal and initial review must be accompanied by a review fee deposit of $450.00.

If the deposit is depleted before completion of review or inspection, the applicant shall deposit an additional amount to complete the review or inspection as estimated by the Authority Engineer within five (5) days of notification or all review and inspection will cease at the end of the allotted five (5) days. Any depo