Rates and Service Rules

All persons, firms or corporations having a connection with the City of Gardner wastewater system shall pay monthly wastewater charges consisting of a wastewater service charge, a wastewater usage charge and an extra strength surcharge as provided herein.  When multiple persons, firms or corporations are served by one water meter, a monthly wastewater service charge shall be billed for each residential dwelling unit. 

Residential and Non-Residential Wastewater Users

• A monthly service charge of $8.10
• A monthly wastewater usage charge of $5.16 per one thousand (1,000) gallons.  Monthly wastewater usage charges will be based on actual metered water usage except during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November, for which wastewater usage will be for not more than the average water usage during the months of December, January, February, and March (winter average).  Customers initiating wastewater service after March will be billed for actual wastewater use or eight thousand (8,000) gallons, whichever is less, until an actual winter average can be established.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit the City from determining wastewater usage charges on an individual basis for those customers with large consumptive use of water.  The City shall not be prohibited from charging new customers with expected large water usage, wastewater usage charges based on actual water usage until a winter average can be established.

Those customers discharging sewage the strength of which is in excess of normal domestic sewage will be billed a surcharge in addition to the normal charges.  The surcharge shall be as follows:

• $ 0.44 per pound B.O.D. (biochemical oxygen demand)