SEWER CHARGES

Columbus City Codes tit. 11, ch. 1147

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 1147.01 Definitions.

1147.01 - Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the meaning of the following terms shall be defined in this section: (a) "Approved laboratory procedures" means the measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of water and wastes in accordance with analytical procedures determined acceptable by Federal Guidelines as established in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 136, or as approved by the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (b) "Billing Charge" shall mean a fixed charge to recover the costs incurred to provide service whether or not any consumption is used. These may include the costs of producing and mailing utility bills, applying payment as it is received, providing customer support and service, and other related sewer system costs. (c) "Commodity Charge" shall mean a sewer use charge that varies in the amount with the level of water the customer actually uses. This charge recovers the operating and maintenance costs associated with treating wastewater to clean water standards, providing the collection system to convey wastewater, and recovers the cost of system capital improvements. The charge includes an Operating and Maintenance charge, a Capital charge, Sewer Maintenance charge, and Industry Specific charge. (d) "Biochemical Oxygen Demand" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (e) "Chemical Oxygen Demand" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (f) "Contracted reserve capacity" means that portion of the unused system design capacity which has been retained by contract for future use by a user. (g) "Cooling water" means the clean wastewater discharged from any heat transfer system such as condensation, air conditioning, cooling or refrigeration. (h) "Director" means the director of Columbus Water & Power, City of Columbus. (i) "Discharge" means the disposal of sewage, water or any liquid from any sewer user into the Columbus sewerage system. (j) "Domestic waste" means any discharge to the sewer system that has strength characteristics which do not exceed 250 mg/l of BOD, 450 mg/L of COD, 145 mg/L of TOC, 300 mg/l of suspended solids and 40 mg/l of TKN. (k) "Industrial process" means any activity where materials are received and are altered by one or more internal operations and then dispatched in the altered form. (l) "Industrial user" means any nongovernmental user of the Columbus sewerage system identified in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1972 edition, classified in Division A, B, D, E or I, that discharges wastewater from an industrial process, and the total wastewater discharged is not primarily non-process domestic waste. (m) "Maintenance" means keeping the POTW in a state of repair and shall include expenditures necessary to maintain the capacity (capability) for which said works were designed and constructed. (n) "Major contributor" means any wastewater contributor identified in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC) in any of Division A, B, D, E and I that: (1) Has a discharge flow of 50,000 gallons or more per average work day (if seasonal, the average shall be computed on the period of use); or (2) Has a flow or pollutant loading greater than five percent of the design capacity of the POTW; or (3) Has in its wastes toxic pollutants in toxic amounts as defined in the standards issued under Section 307(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972; or (4) Is found by the director to have significant impact, either singly or in combination with other contributing industries, on the POTW or upon the quality of effluent from the POTW. (o) "Phosphorus" means total phosphorus content in wastewater as determined by approved laboratory procedures. (p) "Primarily non-process domestic waste" means that at least ninety (90) percent of all wastewater contributed is attributable to sanitary conveniences. (q) "Proportionate" means that each unit has the same relationship to the total with respect to magnitude, quantity and degree. (r) "Replacement" means those expenditures made for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories and/or appurtenances during the useful life of the POTW which are necessary to maintain the capacity and performance of the POTW for which they were designed and constructed. (s) "Sewerage charge" means the aggregate of the appropriate user charges and local capital cost charges. (t) "Sewerage system" means all of the facilities required to transport sewage from the premises of the source to a water reclamation plant and shall include the treatment and disposal facility. All such facilities of the City of Columbus shall be considered to be one such sewerage system. (u) "Significant user" means a user who contributes ten (10) percent or greater of the system design flow or system design for pollutant loadings. (v) "Standard Industrial Classification" means a coded classification of industries based upon economic activity developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce as published in the current Standard Industrial Classification Manual published by the U.S. Government Printing Office. (w) "Standard Strength" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (x) "Total suspended solids (total nonfilterable) residue" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (y) "System design capacity" means the design capacity for normal domestic wastewater as established by accepted engineering standards. (z) "Total organic carbon" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (aa) "Service load" means total billed load as determined by calculating the non-extra strength billed flows times standard strength pounds plus established extra strength flow and loadings. (ab) "Treatment parameter" means a fundamental characteristic of sewage around which treatment is designed, such as, but not limited to flow, BOD, suspended solids and phosphorus. (ac) "User" means any person, lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision that discharges, causes or permits the discharge of wastewater into the city sewerage system. (ad) "Scavenger wastes" means liquid waste materials such as wastes from septic tanks, portable toilets, sewage holding tanks, grit waste and industrial processes which are usually collected at the source by tank truck for disposal elsewhere. (ae) "Industrial wastewater" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (af) "NPDES Permit" means the conditions and limits set forth by the NPDES on the City of Columbus, division of water reclamation for discharging water reclamation plant effluent into public waters. (ag) "Debt service charge" means the portion of a user's bill that is used to offset the principal and interest payments on outstanding debt of the division of water reclamation. (ah) "Operations and Maintenance (O&M)" means the organized procedure for causing a piece of equipment, a water reclamation plant, or other facility or system to perform its intended function and to keep these units in such condition that it is able to continually and reliably perform its intended function. (ai) "Residential user class" means all users who discharge sewage from a structure of human occupancy. (aj) "Commercial user class" means all users who discharge sewage from a non-industrial business establishment. (ak) "Governmental user class" means all users who discharge sewage from a property owned by a local, state or federal governmental entity. (al) "Institutional user class" means all users who discharge sewage from a school, church or hospital. (am) "User charges" means the operation, maintenance and replacement cost of the division of water reclamation. (an) "Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (ao) "Sewer service outside the city" means sewer service furnished to consumers in contract areas or sewer authorized by the Director of Columbus Water & Power for consumers in non-contract areas. (ap) "Non-contract areas" means areas outside the city provided with sewer service by the city where no contract exists with a political subdivision. (aq) "Wet Weather Charge" - A charge based upon the Equivalent Residential Unit to recover costs of construction of projects necessary to meet the requirements of consent orders that mandate elimination of wet weather flow from Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows. This charge recovers debt service costs and other expense of all projects related to correcting wet weather overflows. (ar) "Equivalent Residential Unit" (ERU) - Each ERU is based on two thousand (2,000) square feet of impervious surface area. Residential customers are assigned one (1) ERU per residence. All other customers are charged based on measured impervious area divided by two thousand (2,000) square feet to determine an ERU equivalent. The maximum per customer charge based on calculated ERUs is one thousand (1,000). (as) "Eligible senior customers" means any customer who (a) is receiving service by means of a single meter to a single-family residence; (b) is personally responsible for payment of the bill as head of household; and (c) is sixty (60) years of age or older having a total income of less than two hundred (200) percent of the poverty level as published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census. (at) "Significant industrial user" has the same meaning as in Columbus City Codes Section 1145.02. (au) "POTW" or "publicly owned treatment works" means a treatment works owned by the City of Columbus as defined by Section 212 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C Section 1292). This definition includes any devices and systems used in the collection, storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature, including sewers, pipes and other conveyances that convey wastewater to a POTW water reclamation plant. (Ord. 2616-87; Ord. No. 1595-2009, §§ 2, 5, 2-1-2010; Ord. No. 2635-2014, § 5, 12-7-2015, eff. 2-1-2016; Ord. No. 0329-2019, § 5, 2-11-2019; Ord. No. 3037-2022, § 2, 11-21-2022; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 2837-2024, § 3, 11-25-2024; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.02 Necessity for charges.

1147.02 - Necessity for charges. It is hereby determined necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare and to conform with federal, state and local laws and regulations that a system of charges for sewerage service be established which allocates the cost of providing sewerage service to each user in such a manner that the allocated costs are proportionate to the cost of providing sewerage service to that user, insofar as those costs can reasonably be determined. (Ord. 1980-77.)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.03 Powers and duties of director of public utilities.

1147.03 - Powers and duties of director of public utilities. Sewer charges levied pursuant to this chapter shall be collected by Columbus Water & Power. The director of Columbus Water & Power shall make and enforce such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the safe, economical and efficient management and protection of the city's sewerage system; for the construction and use of sewers and connections to the sewerage system consistent with policies established by council; and for the regulation, collection, rebating and refunding of such sewer charges. (Ord. 478-92; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026.)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.04 Sewer charge system.

1147.04 - Sewer charge system. The following sewer charge systems are hereby established: (a) User charge system. A system of user charges which requires all users to pay their proportionate share of the operation and maintenance (including replacement of equipment) of the sewerage system. (b) Local capital cost recovery system. A system of charges designed to recover from all users, their share of the cost of financing capital improvements to the sewerage system. Said charges are to be added to the appropriate user charge to develop a single sewer charge. (Ord. 2616-87.)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.05 Rate establishment procedures.

1147.05 - Rate establishment procedures. Rates shall be established by city council after a recommendation from the sewer and water advisory board, who shall review the rates annually. Rates shall be designed to recover the cost of rendering sewerage service for the year under consideration. Rates shall be established so as to maintain adequate fund reserves to provide for reasonably expected variations in the cost of providing services, as well as variations in the demand for services. The Director of Columbus Water & Power shall prepare an annual sewer rate report with a recommended rate schedule. This report shall contain data utilized in the determination of said sewer rates. The report will be presented to the Sewer and Water Advisory Board on or before the second Monday of September of each year. The Sewer and Water Advisory Board shall make a recommendation to City Council on or before the last Monday of October of each year, concerning appropriate sewer rates to become effective January 1 of each year. The Director of Columbus Water & Power shall annually notify in conjunction with the regular billing process, all users of the sewer charge rate being charged and the portion of the sewer service charge attributable to the operation, maintenance and replacement costs of the Division of Water Reclamation. (Ord. 478-92; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.06 Method of rate determination.

1147.06 - Method of rate determination. (a) User charge system. The sewer charge rate structure shall include a charge designed to recover from each user the cost of treating that user's effluent and the cost of providing sewerage system related services to that user. The user charge rate structure shall recover sufficient revenues to adequately operate, maintain and replace sewerage system facilities and to provide for an adequate level of sewerage system related services. In determining the annual rate, the following shall apply: (1) Wastewater treatment costs, both direct and indirect, shall be distinguished from non-treatment costs. (2) Treatment costs shall be further subdivided into operation, maintenance and replacement costs. Each of these costs shall be assigned to an appropriate treatment parameter (flow, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, phosphorus, etc.) based on the processes with which they are associated. (3) Unit cost per treatment parameter shall be determined based upon the estimated annual service loads for the rate year under consideration. (4) Non-treatment costs shall be subdivided as follows: (1) Customer specific costs are those costs which tend to vary independent of the effluent discharged. These non-treatment costs are fixed on an annual basis and are shared equally by all customers. (2) Billing costs are those costs which tend to vary with the number of bills rendered and may be distinguished as monthly or quarterly billing costs. Customer related costs and billing related costs shall be converted to a unit cost per customer and per bill respectively. (3) Industry specific costs are those costs associated with the monitoring of industrial wastewater discharges including the collection and analysis of discharge samples. Industry specific costs are to be recovered either on a commodity or customer basis as deemed appropriate in the annual rate review. Customer related costs shall be recovered according to the classification system established in C.C. 1147.08. (5) Nothing in these rules shall be interpreted to preclude charges to users for special or unique services rendered by the Division of Water Reclamation. Such charges shall be recommended to Council for approval, as appropriate, by the Director of Columbus Water & Power. (b) Local capital cost recovery system. The sewer charge rate structure shall include a unit cost per treatment parameter designed to recover each user's share of the local capital costs associated with the financing of notes and bonds to improve and/or expand the sewerage system of the City of Columbus. The charge will be determined as defined in this chapter of the Columbus City Code, 1959, and will be added to the appropriate user charge to establish the applicable sewer charge. (Ord. 2616-87.) (Ord. 478-92.) (Ord. 2616-87.; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.07 Method of determining wastewater strength characteristics.

1147.07 - Method of determining wastewater strength characteristics. (a) Volume of discharge shall be determined as provided in Section 1147.14 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959. (b) Concentration of wastewater. (1) Monitored discharge. Monitoring on a periodic basis through direct sampling, utilizing recognized field techniques, equipment and procedures will be used for all major contributors. BOD, COD, or TOC tests may be used to determine the organic strength of wastewater. Wastewater characteristics shall be determined by the Division of Water Reclamation on the basis of monitored wastewater discharged, a certified statement from the user, or on the best available data, as to the characteristics of such discharges. (2) Any significant change in industrial wastewater nature, quality, or volume shall be reported to the division of water reclamation in accordance with Columbus City Codes Section 1145.55. (3) If it is determined through monitoring that a significant variation exists between the users certified data and the discharge characteristics monitored by the division of water reclamation, the city may adjust sewer charges based on the monitored data from the original date of certification unless written communication has occurred notifying said division of changes in loading and giving specific dates of changes. (4) Designated Discharge. Where sampling and gauging of a specific user or user class is not practical for physical, economic, safety, or other reasons; the division of water reclamation may designate values for concentrations of the wastes discharged into the sewerage system for all users in the same standard industrial classification or subclassification. The designated concentrations may be determined by sampling the waste discharges of one (1) or more typical firm(s) in the same classification or by other appropriate means. The resultant designated concentration may serve as the value for all users in a particular classification. Extra strength user wastewater concentrations may be adjusted for an entire classification or for individual users upon determination that the previously assigned concentration was inappropriate. Initially, all users who are placed in a designated user class shall be assigned wastewater concentrations. An annual evaluation may be made for each specific SIC subclass by the division of water reclamation to substantiate the future assignment of specific strengths for similar users in that particular industrial group. (Ord. 1980-77.; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.08 User classifications.

1147.08 - User classifications. User charge classifications. The following user charge classes are hereby established: (a) Standard Strength User. The standard strength user class shall include all users (including business and industry) whose wastewater load characteristics are less than two hundred fifty (250) mg/L of BOD, less than four hundred fifty (450) mg/L of COD, less than one hundred forty-five (145) mg/L of TOC, less than three hundred (300) mg/L of suspended solids and less than forty (40) mg/L of TKN. All standard strength users shall be charged for effluent at one hundred fifty (150) milligrams per liter of BOD, two hundred (200) milligrams per liter of suspended solids and twenty-five (25) milligrams per liter of TKN. (b) Extra Strength User. The extra strength user class shall include all users whose average wastewater discharge concentration is equal to or greater than two hundred fifty (250) milligrams per liter (mg/L) BOD, four hundred fifty (450) milligrams per liter (mg/L) COD, one hundred forty-five (145) milligrams per liter (mg/L) TOC, three hundred (300) milligrams per liter of suspended solids or forty (40) mg/L of TKN. All users classified as extra strength users shall be charged at established effluent levels. A surcharge shall be levied on all effluent in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/L BOD, four hundred fifty (450) mg/L COD, one hundred forty-five (145) mg/L TOC, three hundred (300) mg/L suspended solids or forty (40) mg/L TKN unless billing costs as determined by the director of Columbus Water & Power exceed the total extra strength surcharges to be recovered. (c) Industrial User. The director of Columbus Water & Power shall assign industrial users, as defined in C.C. 1147.01, to the following industrial classes based on the degree of effort required the division of water reclamation to monitor and control their discharges. Industrial users may be assigned to more than one class and class assignments may be revised as monitoring activities change. The director may establish additional industrial user classes if it is determined that an industry or industries do not fit the established class or if special situations arise. The industrial user classes are as follows: Major Group A. Includes industries requiring monitoring due to actual or potential extra strength discharges. Subgroup A1. Plant activities reviewed about once per year by phone or visit. Subgroup A2. Not sampled but charged extra strength as part of a charge class. Subgroup A3. Marginal for extra strength, sampled at intervals to determine necessity for extra strength charges. Subgroup A4. Sampled once per sampling sequence. Subgroup A5. Sampled twice per sampling sequence. Subgroup A6. Sampled three times per sampling sequence. Subgroup A7. Requires temporary extra sampling due to changes in operation. Above normal sampling for subgroup A4, A5 and A6. Subgroup A8. Company has provided satisfactory sampling systems to allow evaluation through split samples. a. Several split samples are obtained per month. b. Samples are split and analyzed on a daily basis. Major Group B. Includes industries requiring action due to known or possible sewer use problems. Subgroup B1. Activities reviewed about once a year. Subgroup B2. Sewer use parameter checked as part of extra strength sampling. Subgroup B3. Samples of discharge collected and analyzed at intervals. Subgroup B4. Company has been identified as requiring sewer use control by USEPA categorized pretreatment standards: a. After Columbus has been designated as "control authority." b. Before Columbus is designated as "control authority." Subgroup B5. Company has been identified as having an unacceptable discharge, and a program to resolve the problem is required and: a. Major city activity is required; b. Significant city activity is required; c. Minimal city activity is required. Subgroup B6. Company requires control, but the problem has been resolved and intermittent monitoring is now required. (Ord. 478-92.; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.09 Right to hearing and appeal.

1147.09 - Right to hearing and appeal. Wastewater strength characteristics shall be determined by personnel of the division of water reclamation on the basis of best available data including information from monitoring programs, analytical data, and other valid sources of information on characteristics of specific wastewater discharge. Each extra strength user shall be notified in writing of the appropriate standard industrial classification categorization and wastewater strength determination prior to being designated extra strength. Such notification shall also inform the extra strength user of the opportunity to review the designated standard industrial classification category or strength classification with the division of water reclamation. Any classification may be subject to a hearing with the director of Columbus Water & Power in the event the validity of the standard industrial classification categorization and/or strength determination is questioned. The director's decision shall be subject to request for reconsideration by the wastewater review commission in accordance with procedures specified in Section 1145.21 of the Columbus City Code, 1959. (Ord. 478-92; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.10 Billings and terms of payment.

1147.10 - Billings and terms of payment. (a) Billings. A sewer bill may be rendered on either a monthly or quarterly basis. The bill shall distinguish between the sewer charge and where appropriate, the industrial cost recovery charge. (b) Terms of Payment. The sewer charges prescribed in Sections 1147.11 and 1147.18 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, are net. If bills are not paid within twenty-eight (28) days from the date of billing a gross rate, which is the net rate plus ten (10) percent, shall apply. (Ord. 729-82; Ord. 3252-98 § 1 (part); Ord. 1448-02 § 2.)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.11 Rate schedules.

1147.11 - Rate schedules. (a) Charges Within Corporate Limits. For the purpose stated in Sections 1147.02 and 1147.12 there is hereby charged to each user situated within the corporate limits of the city, having any active sewer connection with the sewerage system of such city or otherwise discharging sewerage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, sewer charges as hereinbefore provided, and in the amount determinable as follows: (1) For any such lot, parcel of land, building or premises having any connection with the city's sewerage system or otherwise discharging sanitary sewerage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, such charge shall be based upon the quantity of water used therein as the same is measured by a water meter or meters there in use, as hereinafter described, and there shall be charged: The charges as prescribed in the rate schedule as follows: Rate Component | Units | 2026 Standard Strength User | Standard Strength Industrial User | Extra Strength Industrial User INSIDE CITY Billing Charge Monthly Meter Size 5/8" | $/Month | $6.27 | $6.27 | $6.27 5/8x3/4" | $/Month | $6.27 | $6.27 | $6.27 3/4" | $/Month | $6.65 | $6.65 | $6.65 1" | $/Month | $7.41 | $7.41 | $7.41 1-1/2" (Spud) | $/Month | $9.30 | $9.30 | $9.30 1-1/2" (Flange) | $/Month | $9.30 | $9.30 | $9.30 2" | $/Month | $11.57 | $11.57 | $11.57 3" | $/Month | $17.61 | $17.61 | $17.61 4" | $/Month | $24.42 | $24.42 | $24.42 6" | $/Month | $43.32 | $43.32 | $43.32 8" | $/Month | $66.00 | $66.00 | $66.00 10" | $/Month | $164.28 | $164.28 | $164.28 10x12" | $/Month | $164.28 | $164.28 | $164.28 12" | $/Month | $205.86 | $205.86 | $205.86 16" | $/Month | $213.42 | $213.42 | $213.42 Commodity Charge Operation & Maintenance Charge | $/CCF | $2.49 | $2.49 | $2.49 Capital Charge | $/CCF | $2.85 | $2.85 | $2.85 Sewer Maintenance Charge | $/CCF | $0.79 | $0.79 | $0.79 Industry Specific Charge | $/CCF | $0.00 | $0.48 | $0.48 Total Commodity Charge | $/CCF | $6.13 | $6.61 | $6.61 Wet Weather Charge | $/ERU/Month | $5.04 | $5.04 | $5.04 Extra Strength Surcharge Extra Strength BOD or COD or TOC | $/lb | $0.542 Extra Strength SS | $/lb | $0.371 Extra Strength TKN | $/lb | $0.530 (b) Charges Outside Corporate Limits. For the purpose stated in Sections 1147.02 and 1147.12, there is hereby charged to each user situated outside the corporate limits of the city, having any active sewer connection with the sewerage system of such city or otherwise discharging sewage, industrial wastewater, other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, sewer charges as hereinbefore provided, and in the amount determinable as follows: (1) For any such lot, parcel of land, building or premises having any connection with the city's sewerage system or otherwise discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, such charge shall be based upon the quantity of water used thereon or therein as the same is measured by a water meter or meters there in use, as hereinafter described, and there shall be charged: The charges as prescribed in the rate schedule as follows: Rate Component | Units | 2026 Standard Strength User | Standard Strength Industrial User | Extra Strength Industrial User OUTSIDE CITY Billing Charge Monthly Meter Size 5/8" | $/Month | $6.27 | $6.27 | $6.27 5/8x3/4" | $/Month | $6.27 | $6.27 | $6.27 3/4" | $/Month | $6.65 | $6.65 | $6.65 1" | $/Month | $7.41 | $7.41 | $7.41 1-1/2" (Spud) | $/Month | $9.30 | $9.30 | $9.30 1-1/2" (Flange) | $/Month | $9.30 | $9.30 | $9.30 2" | $/Month | $11.57 | $11.57 | $11.57 3" | $/Month | $17.61 | $17.61 | $17.61 4" | $/Month | $24.42 | $24.42 | $24.42 6" | $/Month | $43.32 | $43.32 | $43.32 8" | $/Month | $66.00 | $66.00 | $66.00 10" | $/Month | $164.28 | $164.28 | $164.28 10x12" | $/Month | $164.28 | $164.28 | $164.28 12" | $/Month | $205.86 | $205.86 | $205.86 16" | $/Month | $213.42 | $213.42 | $213.42 Commodity Charge Operation & Maintenance Charge | $/CCF | $2.49 | $2.49 | $2.49 Capital Charge | $/CCF | $3.82 | $3.82 | $3.82 Sewer Maintenance Charge | $/CCF | $0.38 | $0.38 | $0.38 Industry Specific Charge | $/CCF | $0.00 | $0.48 | $0.48 Total Commodity Charge | $/CCF | $6.69 | $7.17 | $7.17 Wet Weather Charge | $/ERU/Month | $3.22 | $3.22 | $3.22 Extra Strength Surcharge Extra Strength BOD or COD or TOC | $/lb | $0.614 Extra Strength SS | $/lb | $0.418 Extra Strength TKN | $/lb | $0.567 (c) In addition to the charges listed above, the following charge shall apply to the industrial user classes established in C.C. 1147.08: Subgroup A1 | $ 19.68/Mo. Subgroup A2 | 29.52/Mo. Subgroup A3 | 98.40/Mo. Subgroup A4 | 197.90/Mo. Subgroup A5 | 393.58/Mo. Subgroup A6 | 590.36/Mo. Subgroup A7 | 197.90/Mo. Subgroup A8a | 197.90/Mo. Subgroup A8b | 2,459.87/Mo. Subgroup B1 | 19.68/Mo. Subgroup B2 | 98.40/Mo. Subgroup B3 | 98.40/Mo. Subgroup B4a | 197.90/Mo. Subgroup B4b | 98.40/Mo. Subgroup B5a | 245.99/Mo. Subgroup B5b | 147.59/Mo. Subgroup B5c | 49.20/Mo. Subgroup B6 | 49.20/Mo. (d) Septic Tanks and Scavenger Waste Haulers. Fees and charges for treatment of normal scavenger wastes shall be based on the costs of providing such services and on the expected overall average characteristics of such discharges, which shall be designated as 3,902 mg/l BOD, 17,934 mg/l S.S. and 1,301 mg/l TKN for septic tank wastes, 311 mg/l BOD, 596 mg/l S.S. and 104 mg/l TKN for sewage holding tank wastes, 7,407 mg/l BOD, 8,895 mg/l S.S. and 2,469 mg/l TKN for portable toilet wastes, and 27,142 mg/l BOD, 26,345 mg/l S.S. and 9,047 mg/l TKN for grit waste. With prior approval of the Director (or designee), when available treatment capacity allows, high-strength trucked wastes that have total solids between thirteen and thirty (13-30) percent of which eighty to one hundred (80-100) percent are volatile solids and which originate from food packaging or processing or similar facilities may be accepted for special disposal at designated location(s) within the water reclamation plant(s). The Director may designate characteristics on which to base charges in special situations on submission of proof that waste discharges have other than expected overall average concentrations and with provisions of positive identification procedures. Charges may be billed at monthly intervals or at the discretion of the Director, and shall be considered delinquent if not paid within thirty (30) days of billing date. Delinquency in payment shall be basis for revocation of permit. For each one hundred (100) gallons, or portion thereof, of either truck capacity or actual measured discharge, the fee shall be as follows: Waste Hauler Rates | Per 100 Gallons Septic Tank Waste | $8.73 Sewage Holding Tank Waste | $0.46 Portable Toilet Waste | $7.89 Grease Interceptors | $26.62 In addition, a service fee of five dollars and fifty cents ($5.50) shall be charged for each load discharged into the Columbus sewerage system. Persons wishing to discharge sanitary wastes from recreational vehicle holding tanks into the Columbus sewerage system shall be charged a fee of six dollars ($6.00) for each load discharged into the system. (Ord. 2894-90; Ord. 2747-93; Ord. 2640-99 § 1; Ord. 1717-02 § 1: Ord. 2359-03 § 1: 1899-04 § 1; Ord. 1904-05 § 1; Ord. 309-06 § 2; Ord. 1741-2006 § 1: Ord. 1742-2007 § 1; Ord. 1708 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 1439-2009, § 1, 11-23-2009, eff. 1-1-2010; Ord. No. 1595-2009, §§ 3, 4, 2-1-2010; Ord. No. 1540-2010, § 1, 11-15-2010, eff. 1-1-2011; Ord. No. 1882-2011, § 1, 11-21-2011, eff. 1-1-2012; Ord. No. 2358-2012, § 1, 11-19-2012, eff. 1-1-2013; Ord. No. 2499-2013, § 1, 11-18-2013; Ord. No. 2475-2014, § 1, 11-17-2014; Ord. No. 2698-2015, §§ 1—3, 11-23-2015; Ord. No. 2643-2016, § 1(Att.), 11-21-2016, eff. 1-1-2017; Ord. No. 2768-2017, § 1(Att.), 11-20-2017; Ord. No. 2938-2018, § 1(Att.), 11-19-2018, eff. 1-1-2019; Ord. No. 2983-2019, § 1, 11-25-2019, eff. 1-1-2020; Ord. No. 2419-2020, § 1, 11-19-2020, eff. 1-1-2021; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 2724-2021, § 1, 11-22-2021; Ord. No. 3037-2022, § 3, 11-21-2022; Ord. No. 1945-2023, § 3, 9-11-2023; Ord. No. 3142-2023, § 1, 11-20-2023; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 2837-2024, § 3, 11-25-2024; Ord. No. 3083-2025, § 1, 11-24-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.12 Distribution of sewerage system revenues and utilization of funds.

1147.12 - Distribution of sewerage system revenues and utilization of funds. (a) There shall be established for the division of water reclamation the sanitary sewerage system operating fund. (b) The distribution of sewerage system revenues shall be as follows: (1) Sewerage Charge Revenues. The distribution of sewerage charge revenues, as covered by Chapter 1147 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, shall be as follows: One hundred (100) percent of sewerage charge revenues shall be allocated to the sanitary sewerage system operating fund. (2) Sewerage System Capacity Charge Revenues. One hundred (100) percent of sewerage system capacity charge revenues shall be allocated to the sanitary sewerage system operating fund. (3) Miscellaneous Revenues. One hundred (100) percent of all other miscellaneous revenues shall be allocated to the sanitary sewerage system operating fund. (c) Utilization of Funds. (1) Sanitary sewerage system operating fund shall be utilized for the operation and maintenance costs of the sanitary sewerage system, the retirement of sanitary sewerage system debt, and the timely replacement or sanitary sewerage system equipment. (Ord. 1381-94; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.13 Agreements for use of city sewerage system.

1147.13 - Agreements for use of city sewerage system. The Director of Columbus Water & Power is hereby authorized upon prior approval of city council by ordinance to enter into agreements with the state of Ohio, the county of Franklin, cities, villages, corporations, firms, public institutions and individual owners whose premises are located without the corporate limits of the city, who desire to discharge sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city's sewerage system, which agreements shall fix the terms and conditions under which said sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids may be discharged into said sewage system and shall be in conformity with all of the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that all such agreements entered into as enumerated above relative to the use of the city's sewerage system shall make provision for and be subject to any change in rates of charge as may be established by ordinance of council, and, provided, further, in the case of agreements as enumerated above, but excepting those with individual owners, all such agreements entered into subsequent to the effective date of January 1, 1978, shall terminate on December 31 of the first even year following the date of execution thereof, and thereafter, unless specifically authorized by ordinance passed by the city council, may be renewed for periods of not to exceed two (2) years. In the case of agreements with individual owners, the Director of Columbus Water & Power, in lieu of specifying a fixed date of termination therein, as hereinabove provided, may in the Director's own discretion enter into agreements without such fixed date of termination; provided, however, that such agreement shall stipulate that the right is reserved to either party to the agreement to terminate the same upon sixty (60) days notice in writing to the other party of such intention. (Ord. 478-92; Ord. 422-06 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.14 Measurement of water, determination and payment of charges.

1147.14 - Measurement of water, determination and payment of charges. A proportionate charge shall be made to all users that discharge wastewater, either directly or indirectly, into the city sewerage system. Such charges shall be based on the quantity of water used as measured by a water meter or through the use of a sewage flow meter and the users wastewater strength classification as determined in accordance with this chapter. All water and sewage flow meters and their installation shall meet the acceptability of the director. (a) In the event a lot, parcel of land, building premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision, discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of water supplied by the Division of Water of the city, and the quantity of water used is measured by a water meter acceptable to the city's Director of Columbus Water & Power, then, in each such case, the quantity of water used, as measured by said meter, shall be used to determine the sewer charge as provided in this chapter. (b) In the event a lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of water supplied by the Division of Water of the city, and the quantity of water used is not measured by a water meter or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the Director of Columbus Water & Power, then, in each such case, the quantity of water used, as measured by said meter, shall be used to determine the sewer charge as provided in this chapter. (c) In the event a lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision, discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, is not a user of water supplied by the Division of Water of the city, and the water used thereon or therein is not measured by a water meter or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the Director of Columbus Water & Power, then, in each such case, the owner or other interested party shall, at his or its own expense, install and maintain a water meter acceptable to the director and the quantity of water used, as measured by said meter shall be used to determine the sewer charge as provided in this chapter. (d) In the event a lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision, discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, is a user of the water supplied by the Division of Water of the city, and, in addition, uses water from another source which is not measured by a water meter or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the Director of Columbus Water & Power, then, in each case, the owner or other interested party shall, at his or its own expense, install and maintain water meters satisfactory to the Director on all supplies and the quantity of water used to determine the sewer charge shall be the sum of the quantities of water measured by the several meters. (e) In the event a lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision, discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, and it can be shown by such party, to the satisfaction of the Director of Columbus Water & Power, that a portion of the water as measured by the water meter or meters does not and cannot enter the sewerage system, then the Director of Columbus Water & Power may determine in such manner and by such method as the Director may find practicable the percentage of metered water entering the sewerage system, and the quantity of water used to determine the sewer charge shall be that percentage, so determined, of the quantity of water measured by the water meter or meters, or, the Director of Columbus Water & Power may require or permit the installation of acceptable additional meters at such party's expense and in such a manner as to determine the quantity of water actually entering the sewerage system, in which case the quantity of water used to determine the sewer charge shall be the quantity of water actually entering the sewerage system as so determined. In the event such additional meters are installed, an additional charge of two ($2.00) dollars shall be made to cover the cost of reading and computing the flow of each such meter and such additional charge shall be added to each sewer charge bill rendered as otherwise herein provided and described. The two ($2.00) dollar charge is based on a quarterly billing cycle so the maximum annual charge will be eight ($8.00) dollars. (f) The sewer charge provided in this section shall be payable at the office of the city treasurer and, at the option of the Director of Columbus Water & Power, shall be made payable at the same time as the water bill for the lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision, payable. (g) The Director of Columbus Water & Power may require, as a condition to any sewerage agreements entered into as hereinabove provided, that the city shall be furnished with information and data as to all sources of water supply, other than the Columbus' Division of Water, which may be in existence or may later be developed within the confines of the premises covered in such agreement, such data and information, in the case of wells, to include the location, size, capacity and depth thereof. (Ord. 478-92; Ord. No. 2398-2012, § 9, 12-3-2012; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024; Ord. No. 3083-2025, § 1, 11-24-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.15 New connections.

1147.15 - New connections. For any lot, parcel of land, building, premises, municipal corporation or other political subdivision from which connection is made with the city sewerage system or which begins to discharge sewage, any industrial wastewater, water or other liquids into the city's sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, a charge shall be made pursuant to this chapter, the customer specific charge shall be based upon a minimum of one (1) month service regardless of the time such sewer connection is made, or such discharge into the city's sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, is begun, until the next following regular periods. (Ord. 1980-77.; Ord. No. 1730-2024, § 2, 7-1-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.16 Charges a lien.

1147.16 - Charges a lien. Each sewer charge rendered under or pursuant to this chapter is hereby made a lien upon the corresponding lot, parcel of land, building or premises served by a connection to the sanitary sewerage system of the city, and, if the same is not paid within ninety (90) days after it shall be due and payable, it shall be certified to the auditor of the county in which the property is located, who shall place the same on the tax duplicate of said county with the interest and penalties allowed by law and be collected as other taxes are collected. (Ord. 1069-92.)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.17 Sewerage system capacity charge.

1147.17 - Sewerage system capacity charge. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall be defined as follows: (1) "Domestic water service line" shall mean the line extending from the tap at the water main to the meter and shall include all the necessary appurtenances and shall be dedicated to solely providing domestic potable water. (2) "Fire suppression service line" shall mean the line extending from the tap at the water main to the meter and shall include all the necessary appurtenances and shall be dedicated to solely providing water for any necessary fire suppression system. (3) "Combined domestic water/fire suppression line" shall mean the line extending from the tap at the water main to the meter and shall include all the necessary appurtenances and shall provide water simultaneously to the domestic water system and the fire suppression system. For the purposes of providing revenue to help finance and to more equitably distribute the cost of construction of necessary additions to both the sewer system and the water reclamation plants, it is hereby determined and declared necessary to provide for the establishment, exaction, and regulation of a sanitary sewer-capacity charge as hereinafter determined with such charge to be in addition to any and all other fees which may be imposed with respect to said sewer system. The funds received from the collection of such charge, as it is herein authorized, shall be deposited daily with the city treasurer who shall credit them to a special fund from which the council of the city may take appropriations for the payment of the cost and expense of the construction, operation, maintenance, management and repair of the sanitary sewerage systems, regulator chambers, storm standby tanks, pumping stations and water reclamation plants and for the payment of the cost and expense of replacement, extensions to or the enlargement of the same and for the payment of the principal and interest on any debt incurred for the construction of such sewerage system, regulator chambers, storm standby tanks, pumping stations, and water reclamation plants. The Director of Columbus Water & Power shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to exact a sanitary system-capacity charge whenever: (1) Application is made for the issuance of a sewer permit to provide sanitary sewer service to a new structure; (2) At the time an existing structure is enlarged or its use changes; and (3) When an existing structure is removed and a new structure built and reuse is made of an existing sanitary sewer service or new sanitary sewer service is constructed, wherever such property is or will be tributary, directly or indirectly, to any trunk sanitary sewer built by the city, either inside or outside the corporate limits of said city and as provided elsewhere in the Columbus City Code. The charge so exacted shall be determined in accordance with the following: Size of Domestic Water Service Line | Sewerage System Capacity Charges ¾″ | $3,892 1″ | 6,116 1-½″ | 13,344 2″ | 27,801 3″ | 55,601 4″ | 111,203 6″ | 177,925 8″ | 311,368 10″ | 611,616 12″ | 945,224 16″ | 1,112,029 There shall be no sewer system-capacity charge for a fire suppression system service line. The fee for a combined domestic service/fire suppression service line shall be determined by the Columbus Water & Power Director. Credit. If a domestic water service line is replaced, the sewer system capacity charge shall be reduced by the sewer system capacity rate for each domestic water service line which is replaced. Should the sum total of the credits exceed the system capacity rate, the sewer system capacity charge shall be zero (0.00). Replacement credits will be determined by current sewer system capacity rates. No credit refunds will be issued. (Ord. 2526-96 § 1; Ord. 525-97 § 1; Ord. 781-02 § 2: Ord. 1931-05 § 2; Ord. No. 2044-2019, § 12, 7-29-2019; Ord. No. 2837-2024, § 3, 11-25-2024; Ord. No. 3083-2025, § 1, 11-24-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.19 Income qualified discount for commodity charges.

1147.19 - Income qualified discount for commodity charges. (A) For purposes of this section, "income qualified residential customer" is defined as a direct residential customer of the city (whether inside the city or outside the city) having a total income of less than two hundred (200) percent of the poverty level as published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census or who is eligible for food stamp benefits, Ohio Medicaid, Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Home Energy Assistance (HEAP), Ohio Works First, Social Security Disability, public housing benefits, or any other state or federal low income assistance program acceptable to the director. (B) All income qualified residential customers may receive a thirty (30) percent discount on the commodity portion of their sewer bill. This discount will be available to the income qualified residential customer upon application to and approval of Columbus Water & Power. (C) The Director may adopt regulations necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of this section. Regulations promulgated, pursuant to this chapter by the Director shall be published in the City Bulletin, with copies of the regulations being available for public review at the Director's office and other locations which may be designated by the Director. (D) Master metered properties are eligible to receive a thirty (30) percent discount on the commodity portion of their sewer bill if the property owner proves to the satisfaction of the Director that the property meets one or both of the following criteria: (1) eighty (80) percent or more of the rental units are occupied by participants in qualifying programs outlined in 1147.19(A); or (2) the property receives subsidized housing benefits from any state or federal low income assistance program acceptable to the director. If the criteria are met, the entire building or complex will be eligible to receive the thirty (30) percent commodity rate discount. The discount shall be applied to the master meter bill. Property owners must transmit the full benefit of the discount to residents. (E) Political subdivisions receiving water service pursuant to a wholesale master meter contract with the city are eligible to receive the income qualified discount if the political subdivision adopts the income qualified discount program as described in Section 1147.19 of the Columbus City Codes. Participating master metered suburban community customers must provide to Columbus Water & Power a detailed listing in an approved format of all qualifying customers and their commodity usage prior to application of the discount to the mastered metered account billing. The discount shall apply only to the measured commodity usage of qualifying customers within the master metered suburban community's customer accounts. (Ord. 1904-05 § 2: Ord. 962-06 § 1 (part); Ord. 1708 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2635-2014, §§ 3, 6, 12-7-2015, eff. 2-1-2016; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 3199-2022, § 2, 12-12-2022; Ord. No. 2837-2024, § 3, 11-25-2024; Ord. No. 3083-2025, § 1, 11-24-2025; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.20 Corrections to billing; limits; exception.

1147.20 - Corrections to billing; limits; exception. (A) If the Division of Water Reclamation or its agent has undercharged a customer for sewer service because of a malfunctioning metering system or billing error, the division may bill the customer for the portion of the unbilled sewer consumption used, the unbilled Wet Weather Charges incurred, or both in the two (2) year period immediately prior to the date the division or its agent remedies the malfunctioning meter or billing error. (B) If, however, during the two (2) year period described in Part A, the Division of Water Reclamation or its agent has attempted to verify or repair a malfunctioning metering system and the customer has not responded to requests to read or repair the meter, the division or its agent will bill the customer for the amount of the unbilled water and sewer consumption used in the six (6) year period immediately prior to the date the division or its agent remedies the malfunctioning meter. (C) This section does not apply to tampering with utility equipment or theft of the utility service as defined in Section 1105.038 of the Columbus City Code and Section 4933.18 and 4933.19 of the Ohio Revised Code, or where a physical act of a customer or its agent causes inaccurate or no recording of the meter reading or inaccurate or no measurement of the water rendered. (Ord. No. 1595-2009, § 6, 2-1-2010; Ord. No. 1682-2025, §§ 3, 4, 6-30-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.21 Credits.

1147.21 - Credits. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which allow for a credit in the wet weather charge for properties other than single family residential properties. (Ord. No. 1321-2012, § 1, 7-23-2012)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.23 Septic Tank Elimination Assistance Program.

1147.23 - Septic Tank Elimination Assistance Program. A septic tank elimination assistance program is hereby established for the purpose of assisting residential customers in connection to the sewerage system, thereby eliminating septic tanks and other on-lot sewage treatment systems. The director is authorized to adopt regulations necessary to implement and administer the program. Notwithstanding any other sections of the city codes, the director's regulation may defer the payment of costs associated with connecting to the sewerage system. The regulation may also establish eligibility requirements and/or administrative fees for the program and may establish a loan program for residential customers to assist those customers with costs associated with removal or abandonment of septic tanks or other on-lot sewage treatment systems and the installation of service laterals, with repayment deferred until the property is sold, transferred, or no longer used as a private residence. Repayment of loans and deferred connection costs will be secured through a mortgage recorded against the property. (Ord. No. 2714-2012, § 1, 1-14-2013)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.24 Eligible senior customer discount.

1147.24 - Eligible senior customer discount. Eligible senior customers may have monthly sewer service billing charges waived from sewer bills. This discount will be available to eligible senior customers upon successful completion of application and approval by Columbus Water & Power. (Ord. No. 2635-2014, § 5, 12-7-2015, eff. 2-1-2016; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.25 Charges during termination.

1147.25 - Charges during termination. Sewer billing charges will continue to be charged during the period that water service is terminated. (Ord. No. 0329-2019, § 6, 2-11-2019)

Columbus City Codes § 1147.99 Penalty.

1147.99 - Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of Section 1147.18 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. Any such violation shall constitute a separate offense on each successive day continued. (Ord. 2371-78.)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11WASEELCO_CH1147SECHFetched: 10/27/2026