Water and Sewerage Rates and Charges Regulations (No. 7 of 2010)

Water and Sewerage Rates and Charges Regulations GRENADA STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS NO.7 OF 2010 THE NATIONAL WATER AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY IN EXERCISE OF THE POWERS CONFERRED ON IT BY SECTION 27 (5) AND 52 OF THE NATIONAL W A TERAND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY ACT CAP. 203 AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINISTER HEREBY MAKES THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS: (Gazetted 1st April, 2010) 1. Citation. These regulations may be cited as the WATER AND SEWERAGE RATES AND CHARGES REGULATIONS, 2010. 2. Definition. In these Regulations "domestic consumer" means an owner who uses water for all household purposes, including consumption, bathing and cooking; "fixed monthly charge" means a charge imposed on every consumer or owner on the monthly bill rendered to him by the Authority, which is used to cover routine maintenance of plant, machinery and equipment of the Authority; "meter" means any appliance used to measure, ascertain, regulate and record the amount of water taken or used from any waterworks by means of any service as well as any appliance used in estimating the flow of water in or from any part of any waterworks; "non domestic consumer" means an owner who uses water for non domestic purposes and includes use of such water in connection with any profession, trade, business enterprise or in the process of manufacturing any product and this includes Government and use on any property consisting of more than five apartments; 3. Rates, charges and fees payable by metered consumers. The rates, charges and fees for the supply of water by the Authority shall be as set out in Schedule I. 4. Charges and fees for services rendered by the Authority. The charges and fees for general services rendered by the Authority to consumers shall be as set out in Schedule II. 5. Rate formula for sewerage facilities. The formula for rates for sewerage facilities provided by the Authority to consumers shall be as set out in Schedule III. 6. Water and sewerage rates payable. (l) Where an owner makes an application to the Authority for a water connection, the Authority shall prepare for the owner, an estimate of the cost of the water connection, inclusive of fees under Part A of Schedule II and shall advise him of the charges which he is required to pay in accordance with these Regulations. (2) Upon approval and payment of the estimate by the owner and payment of the charge for service provided under Part B of Schedule II, the Authority shall establish an account in the name of the owner and provide him with the water connection. (3) The charge for service payable by the owner under subregulation (2) shall be refundable by the Authority to the owner, less any rates and charges owed to the Authority by the owner, within seven days after notice in writing is given to the Authority by the owner, stating the intention of the owner to close his account with the Authority. 7. Billing. The Authority shall at such intervals as the Authority determines, prepare and render to owners, bills for rates, charges or fees in respect of water supply, sewerage services or both and the owner shall pay the bills not later than thirty (30) days after the bills are rendered. 8. Interest. Any rates, charges or fees that are outstanding for more than thirty days shall accrue interest at the rate of one percent per month. 9. Power to discontinue water supply in respect of the non-payment of rates, charges or fees for either water or sewerage services. (1) Where an owner is in arrears with the payment of any water or sewerage rates, charges, or fees, or neglects or fails to make payments within thirty days after the due date the Authority may, without notice, discontinue the water supply services to that owner and the supply may not be resumed to the owner until such arrears, and any further charges or fees that might properly have accrued or have become payable, have been paid. (2) The discontinuance of the supply of water under subregulation (1) does not prevent the accrual of any further proper charges or fees. (3) Where an owner to whom subregulation (1) applies ceases to occupy the premises in respect of which the water rates, sewerage rates, charges or fees, are payable without having paid them, the Authority may, in relation to any other premises occupied by the owner (a) withhold the supply of water to such other premise; or (b) if water has already been supplied, discontinue the supply of water, to such other premises, until the payment is made. 10. Reconnection charges. Where, pursuant to Regulation 9, the Authority discontinues the water supply services to an owner, the Authority may charge the owner the fee for reconnecting the supply as set out in Part C of Schedule II. 11. Recovery of unpaid rates, charges or fees. The rates, charges or fees payable to the Authority and the expenses reasonably incurred by the Authority in disconnecting or reconnecting a water supply may be recovered by the Authority as a civil debt due to the Authority where: (a) such rates, charges or fees are in arrears; and (b) the Authority makes a demand for payment and the person liable fails to make payment within thirty (30) days after the date of the demand. 12. Meters. (1) The Authority may install a meter on any property connected to the water services supplied by the Authority and the rates and charges to be paid by the owner of the property shall be determined in accordance with the quantity of water registered by the meter, plus a fixed monthly charge as specified in Schedule I. (2) For the purpose of calculating sewerage rates on a property where water consumed on that property includes water from a source other than that supplied by the Authority, the Authority may install meters on any such property to measure and record the quantity of water consumed from that source. 13. Accuracy of Meters. (1) Where a meter is found to be defective, the limits of inaccuracy and the estimate of consumption shall be regulated as follows: (a) where the quantity of water registered by a meter at normal flow is not more than five per cent above or below the actual quantity passed, the meter shall be deemed to be accurate. (b) where for any reason a meter does not properly record the quantity of water consumed or is proved to register inaccurately the quantity of water passing through it, the Authority may make a fair and reasonable estimate of the quantity supplied and such estimate shall be based on (i) the registration of a substituted meter, (ii) the average registration during the preceding three months, (iii) the average registration during the corresponding three months of the previous year, or (iv) whatever basis is considered equitable by the Authority, having regard to the circumstances of the case. (2) Where an owner requests the removal and testing of a meter, he shall, before the meter is removed, pay to the Authority, the cost of removing, carting and testing the meter. (3) Where a meter is found to be inaccurate, by registering on test at normal flow more than five percent above or below correct registration, the amount paid pursuant to subregulation (l) and (2) shall be refunded to the owner by the Authority and his account for water rates shall be adjusted in accordance with the percentage of error. 14. Repeal of SRO 29 of 1992. The Water and Sewerage Rates and Charges Regulations, No. 29 of 1992, is hereby repealed. 15. Commencement. These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into operation March 01,2010. Tariff Structure Monthly consumption (gals) Variable Rate (XCD/1000 gals) Average past consumption (gals) Fixed Monthly Charge Domestic $10.80 Less than 2,800 $8.10 2,800 – 5,500 $13.50 Greater than 5,500 $20.25 Non Domestic 21.35 Less than 2800 $15.00* 2801 – 20,000 $33.75* 20,001 – 100,000 $140.00* Greater than 100,000 $555.00* Ships $33.75 *The fixed monthly charge is calculated using the average monthly consumption of the owner over the previous calendar year (or part thereof) and such fixed monthly charge shall be reviewed at the end of each year. SCHEDULE II PART A FEE FOR NEW WATER CONNECTIONS Diameter of the Service Main Charge (XCD) ½ inch $80.00 ¾ inch $120.00 1 inch $175.00 1 ½ inch $420.00 2 inches $420.00 2 ½ inches $1,000.00 3 inches $1,000.00 4 inches $1,200.00 Over 4 inches $1,500.00 PART B CHARGE FOR SERVICE TYPE OF BUILDINGS CHARGE FOR SERVICE (XCD) Domestic Buildings (any size) $240.00 Non-domestic (any size) $340.00 PART C FEES FOR RECONNECTING WATER SUPPLY SERVICES TYPE OF BUILDINGS CHARGE Domestic Buildings (any size) $75.00 Non-Domestic (any size) $150.00 PART D COST OF NEW SEWER CONNECTIONS EC$ Type of Building Town of St. George's Parish of St. George Domestic Buildings $1200.00 $1,600.00 Non-Domestic Building (a) More than 1,000 sq.ft in area $1,550.00 $1,875.00 (b) Up to and including 1,000 sq.ft in area $1,350.00 $1,600.00 Government Buildings $1,500.00 $1,500.00 SCHEDULE III SEWERAGE RATES FORMULA a. Domestic Consumers: One third of monthly water rate b. Non-Domestic Consumers: Two thirds of monthly water rate c. Where premises are wholly or partly supplied with water by a source other than the Authority the sewerage rate shall be calculated as though all the water were supplied by the Authority. Made by the Authority this 25th day of March, 2010. TERRENCE SMITH Chairman, Board of Directors The National Water and Sewerage Authority. GRENADA PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, ST. GEORGE'S 2010.