Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 22.220 SEWER SERVICE CHARGES Revised

“Commercial” means all types of nongovernmental commercial uses, including hotels and motels.

“Department” means Ventura Water as established by Section 2.367.010 et seq.

“General manager” means the department head of Ventura Water as established by Section 2.367.010 et seq.

“Industrial user” means any user of publicly owned treatment works identified in the North American Industry Classification System, 2007 or most current, Federal Office of Management and Budget as amended and supplemented.

“Mixed-use customer” means combined uses served by a single water meter including residential, commercial and industrial uses.

“Multiple-family dwelling” means a building, or portion thereof, containing more than one dwelling unit, including row, group, court or trailer park dwellings, but does not include hotels and motels.

“Multiple-family residential wastewater customer” means a wastewater customer who lives in a dwelling unit which is designed exclusively for occupancy by two or more individuals and/or families living independently of each other.

“Nonresidential” means any customers who are not classified as single-family residential, multifamily residential, municipal facility, untreated water, or reclaimed water.

“Premises” means a lot, parcel of land, building or establishment.

“Sewage” or “wastewater” means either or both of the following:

1. Domestic Sewage. “Domestic sewage” means a combination of liquid or water-carried human wastes conducted away from residences, business buildings, industrial establishments and institutions.

2. Industrial Waste. “Industrial waste” means liquid or water-carried waste resulting from a manufacturing process employed in industrial establishments including the washing, cleaning, or drain water from such process.

“Single-family residential dwelling unit” means a suite of one or more rooms which is occupied by or intended to be occupied by one family and is served by a single water meter. (Code 1971, § 4641; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 21, 6-4-12; Ord. No. 2021-009, § 8, 5-24-21)

There is hereby levied and assessed upon each of the premises having any sewer connection with the sewerage system of the city, or otherwise discharging sewage which ultimately passes through the city sewerage system, a service charge for rental payable as hereinafter provided and in an amount determinable as follows:

A. Consumption Determination. For single-family customers, there shall be a flat charge plus a per hcf rate, capped at 10 hcf, based on the water consumption for the same month as specified in Appendix A.

For multiple dwelling customers, there shall be a flat charge plus a per hcf rate, capped at eight hcf per dwelling unit, based on the total water consumption of a customer’s complex for the same month divided by the total number of dwelling units in that customer’s complex. The resulting average water consumption per dwelling unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole number to determine the applicable consumption.

B. Commercial Establishments. Commercial establishments operating within the city of San Buenaventura shall be assigned to one of the six groups outlined below:

1. Group 1.

a. Laundromats.

b. Car wash.

c. Professional offices.

d. Convalescent homes.

e. Wholesale establishments.

f. Offices.

g. Retail establishments.

h. Public buildings.

i. Barber and beauty shops.

j. Gas stations and garages.

k. Bars without dining facilities.

l. Theaters.

m. Gyms.

n. Hospitals.

o. Grocery stores without garbage grinders.

p. Churches.

2. Group 2.

a. Hotels and motels without dining facilities.

b. Commercial laundries.

3. Group 3.

a. Hotels with dining facilities.

4. Group 4.

a. Mortuaries.

b. Grocery stores with garbage grinders.

5. Group 5.

a. Bakeries.

b. Restaurants.

c. Multi-use shopping centers.

6. Group 6.

a. Plant nurseries.

Group designation is based on the similarity of discharge strength into the city’s sewerage system.

For those commercial establishments where it is claimed that the above grouping would lead to inequitable rates for wastewater service, the general manager, or a designee thereof, shall determine the appropriate discharge parameters and place the commercial establishment in the most appropriate group. Any customer may appeal the general manager’s classification on the basis of hardship or incorrect calculation to the city manager or a designee thereof, whose decision shall be final. Appeals shall be processed as set forth below:

Any customer who wishes to appeal the classification shall do so in writing to the city manager within 15 days following the general manager’s decision by mailing a letter setting forth the reason for the appeal.

The monthly billing rate for each commercial group shall be as specified in Appendix A.

C. Mixed-Use Customers. The lowest sewer charge shall be the multifamily residential rate (the monthly billing rate shall be multiplied by the total number of units on the lot) unless the uses include any commercial establishment in Group 3, Group 4 or Group 5 in which case the sewer charges shall be per the highest group charge. The rate selected for wastewater will determine if the mixed use customer is considered residential or nonresidential service for potable water.

D. Other Nondomestic Wastewater Discharges. Except as provided in subsections (D), (E), and (F) of this section, sewerage charges for other nondomestic wastewater discharge shall be based on volume and strength as determined by the provisions of Chapter 22.240 unless such discharge is determined by the general manager to be similar in strength to one of the groups of subsection (B) of this section, in which case the general manager may assign the discharge to one of these groups for determination of sewerage charges.

E. Schools. Schools will be billed on a monthly basis based upon the average daily attendance. The charge will be the average daily attendance (ADA) divided by 100 and multiplied by the rate as specified in Appendix A. It will be the school’s responsibility to furnish the customer care office with the average daily attendance records for the school within 60 days of the close of school. If these records are not furnished, the customer care office will use the average daily attendance records from the previous reported year. The adjusted rate will be effective with the next water billing.

F. Computation, Premises Not Using City Water. For premises not using city water, the charge shall be based upon the amount of water used each month measured by a meter, or if no meter is used, then by estimate of the city manager, which estimate shall be conclusive.

G. Enforcement. The general manager may adopt reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.

H. Pass-Through. The rates charged for all wastewater treated by the city shall be established by ordinance of the city council. Each customer receiving wastewater service is liable for payment for such service at the rates so established.

The city council authorizes the imposition of future wastewater rate increases when the sludge disposal charges or other utility charges, or wastewater treatment costs, increase as a result of increased charges to the city from other agencies. Such increases shall be derived from and limited solely to the increases in the rates or other utility charges that the city pays for the wastewater treatment costs.

The general manager of San Buenaventura Water shall provide written notice to the city council and customers of any such rate increases not less than 30 days before the effective date of the rate increases. Any such notice may be provided in the city’s regular billing statements. (Code 1971, § 4642; Ord. No. 2002-09, § 2, 6-25-02; Ord. No. 2003-006, § 3, 6-23-03; Ord. No. 2004-014, § 3, 7-12-04; Ord. No. 2005-005, § 5, 7-18-05; Ord. No. 2005-008, § 5, 10-24-05; Ord. No. 2006-011, § 3, 6-26-06; Ord. No. 2007-018, § 3, 7-23-07; Ord. No. 2008-013, § 4, 11-17-08; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 22, 6-4-12; Ord. No. 2012-016, § 3, 7-16-12; Ord. No. 2021-009, § 9, 5-24-21; Ord. No. 2025-017, § 7, 12-16-25)

A. Treasurer to Collect. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to supervise the collection of all charges or rentals herein levied and assessed.

B. Collection With Charge for Water. For those customers served by the city water system, such charges or rentals shall be collected with the charges for water furnished by the city to said premises. The charges or rentals herein fixed shall be billed upon the same bill as is prepared for charges for water, and shall be due and payable at the same time that such charges for water are due and payable. The total amount due for the charges or rentals herein fixed and for charges for water shall be paid as a unit and all of the provisions of this code pertaining to the collection of charges for water shall apply to the collection of any such total amount. An equitable and reasonable allowance may be made for collection by another agency such as a private water company.

C. Separate Collection for Those Not Served by City Water. For those customers not served by the city water system, the treasurer shall prepare a separate billing for sewer charges or rentals. All of the provisions of this code pertaining to the collection of charges for water shall apply to the collection of any such sewer charges or rentals.

D. Delinquency Charges. Any charge that becomes delinquent shall have added to it a basic penalty charge equal to 10 percent of the charge that became delinquent and thereafter an additional penalty shall accrue on the total charge due, including the 10 percent basic penalty, at the rate of one-half of one percent per month until paid in full.

E. Collection of Delinquency Charges. Any delinquent charge and all penalties including court costs and legal fees thereon shall constitute a debt to the city and may be collected by lawsuit brought in the name of the city. Any such action for collection may include an application for an injunction to prevent repeated and reoccurring violations of this division. (Code 1971, § 4643)

In the event that the owner or occupant of premises connected to the city sewerage system shall fail to pay any charge or rental herein provided, when the same becomes due, the city may, in addition to other remedies it may have, discontinue furnishing water and shall not resume the same until all delinquent charges and rentals hereunder, together with any service charge necessitated by a resumption of water service, have been fully paid. (Code 1971, § 4644)

The funds received from the collection of the charges and rentals less any allowance for collection as authorized by this chapter shall be deposited by the water superintendent with the treasurer and shall be accounted for and be known as the “sewer and sanitation fund,” and when appropriated by the council, shall be available for the payment of the cost and expense of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of sanitation or sewerage facilities, including sewage pumping plant, sewage treatment and disposal works, refuse and garbage disposal plants and collection facilities and extensions and improvements thereto. (Code 1971, § 4645)