ARTICLE 913

Water Rates and Charges

913.01 Water service rates.
913.02 Scheduling of bills for all water service customers.
913.03 Penalties for late payments of bills.
913.04 Collection of delinquent bills.
913.05 Charges For Discontinuing And Restoring Of Water Service For In-City and Out-of-City Users.
913.06 Additional Charge For Discontinuing And Restoring Of Water Service For Out-Of-City Users.
913.07 Returned check charge.
913.08 Meter test rates.

CROSS REFERENCES

Water supply - See 3rd Class Sections 3501-3572 (53 P.S. Sections 38501-38572)
Water regulations - See S.U. & P.S. Art. 911
Use in air conditioning systems - See S.U. & P.S. Art. 915
Sewer rental based on water consumed - See S.U. & P.S. Art. 927

913.01 WATER SERVICE RATES

The Council of the City of Bethlehem hereby fixes and establishes the following rates governing the furnishing of water with respect to real estate situate both inside and outside the City of Bethlehem.

(a) Meter Rates. The following schedules apply to all service other than fire protection.

Schedule A
Meter Rates – General Residential Customer Service

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all residential customer service.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered residential customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Meter Customer Charge
Inches Per Month Per Quarter

5/8 $ 7.07 $ 21.21
3/4 13.50 40.50
1 26.20 78.60
1-1/2 51.20 153.60
2 82.30 246.90
3 168.70 506.10
4 264.00 792.00
6 528.00 1584.00
8 or larger 1060.00 3180.00

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rate:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $3.39

Schedule B
Meter Rates – General Commercial Customer Service

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all commercial customer service.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered commercial customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge
Meter Per Month Per Quarter Meter Per Month Per Quarter

5/8” $ 7.07 $ 21.21 3” $ 168.70 $ 506.10
3/4" 13.50 40.50 4” 264.00 792.00
1” 26.20 78.60 6” 528.00 1584.00
1-1/2” 51.20 153.60 8” 1060.00 3180.00
or larger
2” 82.30 246.90

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.61

Schedule C
Meter Rates – General Industrial Customer Service

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all industrial customer service.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered industrial customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge
Meter Per Month Per Quarter Meter Per Month Per Quarter

5/8” $ 7.07 $ 21.21 3” $ 168.70 $ 506.10
3/4" 13.50 40.50 4” 264.00 792.00
1” 26.20 78.60 6” 528.00 1584.00
1-1/2” 51.20 153.60 8” 1060.00 3180.00
or larger
2” 82.30 246.90

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.61

Schedule D
Meter Rates – General Public Customer Service

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all public customer service.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered public customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge
Meter Per Month Per Quarter Meter Per Month Per Quarter

5/8” $ 7.07 $ 21.21 3” $ 168.70 $ 506.10
3/4" 13.50 40.50 4” 264.00 792.00
1” 26.20 78.60 6” 528.00 1584.00
1-1/2” 51.20 153.60 8” 1060.00 3180.00
or larger
2” 82.30 246.90

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.61

Schedule E
Meter Rates – Sales for Resale

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all sale of water to other water utilities or public authorities for resale.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered sales for resale customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge
Meter Per Month Per Quarter Meter Per Month Per Quarter

5/8” $ 7.07 $ 21.21 3” $ 168.70 $ 506.10
3/4" 13.50 40.50 4” 264.00 792.00
1” 26.20 78.60 6” 528.00 1584.00
1-1/2” 51.20 153.60 8” 1060.00 3180.00
or larger
2” 82.30 246.90

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $3.39

Schedule F
Meter Rates – Untreated Water Service

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all sale of untreated water for non-potable use only.

CUSTOMER CHARGES

All metered untreated water service customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.

Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge
Meter Per Month Per Quarter Meter Per Month Per Quarter

5/8” $ 7.07 $ 21.21 3” $ 168.70 $ 506.10
3/4" 13.50 40.50 4” 264.00 792.00
1” 26.20 78.60 6” 528.00 1584.00
1-1/2” 51.20 153.60 8” 1060.00 3180.00
or larger
2” 82.30 246.90

CONSUMPTION CHARGES

In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:

Rate Per
1,000 Gallons

For all usage monthly or quarterly $1.623

Schedule G
Water Rates – Unmetered – Former Village View Gardens

APPLICATION

This schedule applies to all unmetered customers of the former Village View Gardens Water Company.

Residential Rate Per Quarter

Including one complete bathroom $ 35.26

Including two complete bathrooms,
or one complete and one incomplete
bathroom (powder room) $ 41.60

(b) Private Fire Service Standby System Rates

For each private fire line that supplies water service to a standby system for fire protection, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made according to the size of the area protected and the size of the fire line servicing the facility.

Fire Line Per Quarter Per Month

Less than 6” (including Siamese $ 103.50 $ 34.50
connections and 2”, 3”, and
4” residential connections)
6” 129.30 43.10
8” 154.80 51.60
10” 180.30 60.10
12” 231.90 77.30

In addition to the above fire line charge, a quarterly/monthly charge is made at $2.58 per thousand square feet of protected area.

(c) Private Fire Hydrant

For each private fire hydrant, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made:

Per Quarter Per Month
Each Private Fire Hydrant $ 72.00 $ 24.00

(d) Public Fire Hydrants – Out-of-City

For each public fire hydrant, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made:

Per Quarter Per Month
Each Public Fire Hydrant $ 66.00 $ 22.00

(e) The out-of-city rates contained herein shall be effective subject to the established date by and the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission which date is
December 17, 2005; and, in-city rates shall take effect on the effective date above.

913.02 SCHEDULING OF BILLS FOR ALL WATER SERVICE CUSTOMERS

Billing for all properties serviced by a five-eighth (5/8”) inch, three-quarter (3/4”) inch or one (1”) inch meter shall be on a quarterly basis, and all other bills for water service through a meter shall be on a monthly basis.

All customers will be given the option of being billed monthly.

913.03 PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT OF BILLS

(a) Residential and Non-Residential Accounts

All customer water meter bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period.

(b) Private Fire Protection Service
Residential and Non-Residential:

All customer bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period.

(c) Private Fire Hydrants
Residential and Non-Residential:

All customer bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period.

(d) Public Fire Hydrants – Out-of-City

All public fire hydrant bills will be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed.

913.04 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT BILLS

(a) In-City Customer – Delinquent accounts placed for collection shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 913.03 together with costs of collection and reasonable attorney’s fees.

(b) Out-of-City Customers – It shall be the duty of the Bureau of Law, when requested by the Department of Water and Sewer Resources, to take such action as may be authorized by law or ordinance for the collection of delinquent bills, including any court costs deemed appropriate by a court of jurisdiction.

913.05 CHARGES FOR DISCONTINUING AND RESTORING OF WATER SERVICE FOR IN-CITY AND OUT-OF-CITY USERS

(a) The fee for shut-off and turn-on of service at the curb stop shall be $35.00.

(b) See Article 911.

913.06 ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR DISCONTINUING AND RESTORING OF WATER SERVICE FOR OUT-OF-CITY USERS

(a) A charge of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per premises shall be made whenever a municipality which is serviced by the City water system requests the City to shut off water service from any premises within the municipality for nonpayment of sewer charges.

(b) See Article 911.

913.07 RETURNED CHECK CHARGE

A charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) will be assessed anytime where a check which has been presented to the City for payment on account has been returned by the payor bank for any reason.

913.08 METER TEST RATES

(a) The fee schedule for testing of meters shall be as follows:

One (1”) inch or less $38.00

One and one quarter (1-1/4”) inch – two (2”) inch $40.00

Fees for testing meters over two (2”) inches or for testing meters so located that testing costs are disproportionate to the stated fees shall be established by the City based upon the actual cost of the test.

(b) See Article 911.

(Ord. 3026. Passed 10/15/85; Ord. 4073. Passed 5/16/01; Ord. 4363. Passed 12/20/05.)