RATES

Meridian Code of Ordinances ch. 25, art. II

in effect

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-36 Water meters required; free water prohibited.

Sec. 25-36. - Water meters required; free water prohibited. (a) All water shall be supplied through meters installed or authorized by the public works department and no application for water, to be served by flat rate, shall be received. No crossover connection with the water main shall be allowed as a substitute for a meter. (b) There shall be no free water to any user except the government of the city; provided, however, the city council and mayor, subject to any prohibitions or restrictions in state law or any applicable water and/or sewer bond documents, by order or resolution duly adopted and recorded on the minutes of the city council, may approve free water or reduced rates for water for any governmental entities whose boards or commissions are appointed in the manner provided by law by the mayor and the city council for general purposes or for any other governmental entities or agencies for water used for fire protection purposes only. (c) All applicants for new service must produce state-issued photo identification. If the applicant cannot produce state-issued photo identification, he/she may provide photo identification and one (1) credit reference. Service may be refused at the discretion of the director or his designee if the new applicant is found not to have sufficient credit references or proof of identification. No application for services shall be accepted from an applicant who is less than eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application, except at the discretion of the director or his designee, upon a case-by-case basis, where sufficient credit reference has been established to the satisfaction of the director or his designee. (Code 1962, § 25-56; Ord. No. 3612, § 14, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 18, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 4194, 9-18-01; Ord. No. 4383, § 3, 4-5-11)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-37 Reserved.

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-38 Charge for water when meters defective.

Sec. 25-38. - Charge for water when meters defective. Where meters have been found to have gone dead or become inoperative or sluggish during any one (1) billing period, the properly authorized officials of the public works department shall have the right to render to the consumer an estimated bill based upon the consumption charged to this account during the same billing period one (1) year previous; provided, however, that the conditions of consumption are the same for both periods of consumption. Each estimated bill shall be stamped, properly explaining that the bill has been estimated in accordance with the rules and regulations or provisions of this chapter governing the billing of water, and if the consumer is dissatisfied with such an estimation, it shall be incumbent upon him to prove to the public works department by affidavit that his use of water, during the period for which the bill was estimated, was less than the corresponding period for the year previous. Upon the presentation of such satisfactory proof, the proper officials of the department shall be authorized to proceed to readjust this bill upon any basis that they may deem equitable and just to the consumer and to the city jointly, as, for example, rendering an average bill based upon the consumption for the previous three (3) months, or rendering a bill based upon an average of the preceding month and subsequent month. (Code 1962, § 25-58; Ord. No. 3612, § 24, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 19, 5-18-93)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-39 Testing, replacement of water meters.

Sec. 25-39. - Testing, replacement of water meters. Meters shall be tested upon application of the consumer. If the meter is found to be inaccurate to the detriment of the consumer or the city, it shall be replaced with an accurate one. If the meter is found to be within two (2) percent correct, either way, it shall be considered correct. Directions for correctly reading meters shall be furnished to consumers who may, by this means, accurately test meters without assistance from the public works department. (Code 1962, § 25-59; Ord. No. 3612, § 25, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 20, 5-18-93)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-40 Water rates.

Sec. 25-40. - Water rates. (a) Schedule. The following rates shall be charged and collected for water service. Said rates will increase seven (7) percent effective October 1, 2026, and will increase seven (7) percent thereafter annually on October 1 through October 1, 2030. A water capital recovery fee shall be instituted effective October 1, 2026, which shall increase three (3) percent every year on October 1 through October 1, 2030. Water Rates | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 Base and Volumetric Rate Increases | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% Base Charge per Meter Size Inside city: ⅝" | $18.45 | $19.74 | $21.12 | $22.60 | $24.18 ¾" | $50.55 | $54.09 | $57.87 | $61.93 | $66.26 1" | $76.21 | $81.54 | $87.25 | $93.36 | $99.90 1.5" | $153.18 | $163.90 | $175.38 | $187.65 | $200.79 2" | $255.82 | $273.73 | $292.89 | $313.39 | $335.33 3" | $448.25 | $479.63 | $513.20 | $549.13 | $587.56 4" | $640.71 | $685.56 | $733.55 | $784.90 | $839.84 6" | $1,282.17 | $1,371.92 | $1,467.96 | $1,570.71 | $1,680.66 8" | $2,565.09 | $2,744.65 | $2,936.77 | $3,142.35 | $3,362.31 Outside city: ⅝" | $36.90 | $39.48 | $42.25 | $45.20 | $48.37 ¾" | $101.10 | $108.18 | $115.75 | $123.85 | $132.52 1" | $152.42 | $163.09 | $174.51 | $186.72 | $199.79 1.5" | $306.36 | $327.81 | $350.75 | $375.30 | $401.58 2" | $511.64 | $547.45 | $585.78 | $626.78 | $670.66 3" | $896.50 | $959.26 | $1,026.40 | $1,098.25 | $1,175.13 4" | $1,281.42 | $1,371.12 | $1,467.10 | $1,569.79 | $1,679.68 6" | $2,564.34 | $2,743.84 | $2,935.91 | $3,141.43 | $3,361.33 8" | $5,130.18 | $5,489.29 | $5,873.54 | $6,284.69 | $6,724.62 Volume Charge Inside city: Usage per Kgal over 2,000 gallons | $9.22 | $9.87 | $10.56 | $11.29 | $12.09 Outside city: Usage per Kgal over 2,000 gallons | $18.44 | $19.73 | $21.11 | $22.59 | $24.17 Capital Recovery Fee ⅝" | $3.00 | $3.09 | $3.18 | $3.28 | $3.38 ¾" | $8.22 | $8.47 | $8.72 | $8.98 | $9.25 1" | $12.39 | $12.76 | $13.15 | $13.54 | $13.95 1.5" | $24.91 | $25.65 | $26.42 | $27.22 | $28.03 2" | $41.60 | $42.84 | $44.13 | $45.45 | $46.82 3" | $72.89 | $75.07 | $77.32 | $79.64 | $82.03 4" | $104.18 | $107.31 | $110.53 | $113.84 | $117.26 6" | $208.48 | $214.74 | $221.18 | $227.81 | $234.65 8" | $417.09 | $429.60 | $442.49 | $455.76 | $469.44 (b) Outside city. Customers outside the city limits shall pay double the monthly charges for water and sewer and all connection and other service fees. (c) Adjustments. (1) Leakage adjustment. In the event the amount of a consumer's monthly statement exceeds the average of the amount of the two (2) monthly statements immediately preceding by fifty (50) percent or more, the public works department may reduce the amount of such monthly statement to the average of the two (2) months immediately preceding if the consumer submits (i) a statement from a plumber licensed by the city that the excessive amount of water metered for that month was caused by a leak or broken water line or fixture and that the cause has been repaired and (ii) a paid receipt from a plumber licensed by the city for parts and labor to repair the cause of the leak or broken line or fixture. Excessive amounts of water being metered where the cause is other than a leak or broken line or fixture may be made on a case-by-case basis, but no adjustment shall be made for any cause if the monthly statement does not exceed the average of the two (2) months immediately preceding by less than fifty (50) percent. Only one (1) such adjustment, regardless of the cause, may be made for a consumer during the calendar year of January 1 through December 31. (2) Other adjustment. In the event a consumer's monthly statement exceeds the average of the amount of the two (2) monthly statements immediately preceding by fifty (50) percent or more, and the cause of the excessive use of water is confirmed to be other than a leak, a broken line or fixture, request for an adjustment shall be directed to the public works department and it will be considered on a case-by-case basis. (3) Number of adjustments. Regardless of the cause of excessive use, only one (1) adjustment may be made for a consumer during any one (1) calendar year, however, one (1) additional adjustment may be made at the discretion of the director or his designee as the circumstances warrant on a case-by-case basis. (d) The rates established in subsection (a) may be adjusted by way of increase or decrease by written order of the mayor or his designated representative, no more often than once every three (3) months, and in a total aggregate percentage which does not exceed ten (10) percent of the amount set in subsection (a) for the fiscal year in which said rate adjustments are adopted. (Code 1962, § 25-60; Ord. No. 3337, § 4, 8-13-69; Ord. No. 3497, § 2, 11-19-75; Ord. No. 3612, § 39, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3624, § 2, 10-21-81; Ord. No. 3822, § 2, 11-15-88; Ord. No. 3882, § 1, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 3955, § 21, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 3957, § 1, 9-7-93; Ord. No. 3987, § 1, 9-6-94; Ord. No. 4012, § 1, 5-2-95; Ord. No. 4026, § 1, 9-19-95; Ord. No. 4059, § 1, 9-3-96; Ord. No. 4089, § 1, 9-25-97; Ord. No. 4110, § 1, 9-15-98; Ord. No. 4194, 9-18-01; Ord. No. 4216, § 1, 9-30-02; Ord. No. 4232, § 1, 9-2-03; Ord. No. 4254, § 1, 9-7-04; Ord. No. 4274, § 1, 9-20-05; Ord. No. 4293, § 1, 9-19-06; Executive order of 3-1-07; Executive order of 7-6-07; Executive order of 8-20-08; Executive order of 8-12-09; Executive order of 9-14-10; Ord. No. 4383, § 4, 4-5-11; Executive order of 9-29-11; Ord. No. 4487, § 2, 9-5-17; Executive order of 3-27-18; Executive order of 9-9-19; Ord. No. 4529, § 1, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 4575, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 4604, § 1(Exh. A), 10-21-25)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-41 Rates for sanitary sewer service.

Sec. 25-41. - Rates for sanitary sewer service. (a) Except as authorized by (e) hereinafter, the following rates shall be charged and collected for the use of the sanitary sewer service. Said rates for sanitary sewer service will increase seven (7) percent effective October 1, 2026, and will increase seven (7) percent thereafter annually on October 1, through October 1, 2030. A sewer capital recovery fee shall be instituted effective October 1, 2026, which shall increase three (3) percent every year on October 1 through October 1, 2030. Sewer Rates | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 Base and Volumetric Rate Increases | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% Base Charge per Meter Size Inside city: ⅝" | $18.45 | $19.74 | $21.12 | $22.60 | $24.18 ¾" | $92.93 | $96.42 | $100.03 | $103.79 | $107.68 1" | $140.11 | $145.36 | $150.81 | $156.47 | $162.34 1.5" | $281.62 | $292.18 | $303.13 | $314.50 | $326.29 2" | $470.31 | $487.95 | $506.25 | $525.23 | $544.93 3" | $824.09 | $854.99 | $887.05 | $920.32 | $954.83 4" | $1,177.92 | $1,222.09 | $1,267.92 | $1,315.47 | $1,364.80 6" | $2,357.22 | $2,445.61 | $2,537.32 | $2,632.47 | $2,731.19 8" | $4,715.81 | $4,892.66 | $5,076.13 | $5,266.49 | $5,463.98 Outside city: ⅝" | $36.90 | $39.48 | $42.25 | $45.20 | $48.37 ¾" | $101.10 | $108.18 | $115.75 | $123.85 | $132.52 1" | $152.42 | $163.09 | $174.51 | $186.72 | $199.79 1.5" | $306.36 | $327.81 | $350.75 | $375.30 | $401.58 2" | $511.64 | $547.45 | $585.78 | $626.78 | $670.66 3" | $896.50 | $959.26 | $1,026.40 | $1,098.25 | $1,175.13 4" | $1,281.42 | $1,371.12 | $1,467.10 | $1,569.79 | $1,679.68 6" | $2,564.34 | $2,743.84 | $2,935.91 | $3,141.43 | $3,361.33 8" | $5,130.18 | $5,489.29 | $5,873.54 | $6,284.69 | $6,724.62 Volume Charge Inside city: Usage per Kgal over 2,000 gallons | $9.22 | $9.87 | $10.56 | $11.29 | $12.09 Outside city: Usage per Kgal over 2,000 gallons | $18.44 | $19.73 | $21.11 | $22.59 | $24.17 Capital Recovery Fee ⅝" | $10.00 | $10.30 | $10.61 | $10.93 | $11.26 ¾" | $27.40 | $28.22 | $29.07 | $29.94 | $30.84 1" | $41.31 | $42.55 | $43.82 | $45.14 | $46.49 1.5" | $83.02 | $85.52 | $88.08 | $90.72 | $93.44 2" | $138.66 | $142.82 | $147.10 | $151.51 | $156.06 3" | $242.95 | $250.24 | $257.75 | $265.48 | $273.45 4" | $347.27 | $357.69 | $368.42 | $379.47 | $390.85 6" | $694.94 | $715.79 | $737.27 | $759.38 | $782.16 8" | $1,390.29 | $1,432.00 | $1,474.96 | $1,519.21 | $1,564.79 (b) Flow measurements will be water meter readings unless wastewater discharge differs from water usage, in which case, the user shall construct and maintain a monitoring system approved by the public works director or his designee, take and record flows and report to city monthly, or flow measurements may be estimated by the public works director or his designee. Such monitoring system shall be made available for inspection by authorized representatives of the public works department at any time during usual business hours. (c) BOD, SS, and TKN measurements shall be made by user and reported to city quarterly. These measurements and any or all other environmental tests which may be required of user shall be performed by a testing lab, certified by the appropriate state or federal agency at the user's expense and the results shall be provided to the public works department as requested. Copies of pretreatment permit reports and NPDES forms shall be submitted to the public works director, or his/her designee. (d) All owners of property connected to the sanitary sewer system of the city and not using city water shall be charged for the use of the sanitary sewer service as follows: (1) Residential users, see subsection (a). (2) Commercial and industrial users, the user shall construct and maintain a monitoring system approved by the public works director or his designee, take and record flows and report to city monthly, or flow measurements may be estimated by the public works director or his designee. Such monitoring system shall be made available for inspection by authorized representatives of the public works department at any time during usual business hours. (e) The rates established in subsections (a) and (d) may be adjusted by way of increase or decrease by written order of the mayor or his designated representative, and confirmed by the city council, no more often than once every three (3) months, and in a total aggregate percentage which does not exceed ten (10) percent of the amounts set in subsections (a) and (d) for the fiscal year in which said rate adjustments are adopted. (f) The monthly charge to residential consumers for sewer service provided during the months of November through April of each calendar year shall be the same amount as they pay for their water each month. During May of each calendar year, the public works department shall determine the average of the payments for sewer service made by each residential consumer during the months of November through April immediately preceding. The monthly charge to residential consumers for sewer service provided during the months of May through October of each calendar year shall be the same as they pay for their water each month, but it shall not exceed the amount of the average of their payments for the months of November through April immediately preceding as calculated by the public works department. (Code 1962, § 25-61; Ord. No. 3337, § 5, 8-13-69; Ord. No. 3462, § 1, 6-4-74; Ord. No. 3547, § 2, 10-18-78; Ord. No. 3612, § 40, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3636, § 1, 4-6-82; Ord. No. 3882, § 2, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 3928, § 1, 1-7-92; Ord. No. 3955, § 22, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 3957, §§ 1, 2, 9-7-93; Ord. No. 4012, § 2, 5-2-95; Ord. No. 4026, § 2, 9-19-95; Ord. No. 4059, § 2, 9-3-96; Ord. No. 4089, § 2, 9-25-97; Ord. No. 4110, § 2, 9-15-98; Ord. No. 4216, § 1, 9-30-02; Ord. No. 4232, § 2, 9-2-03; Ord. No. 4254, § 2, 9-7-04; Ord. No. 4274, § 2, 9-20-05; Ord. No. 4293, § 2, 9-19-06; Executive order of 3-1-07; Ord. No. 4319, § 1, 6-5-07; Executive order of 7-6-07; Executive order of 8-20-08; Executive order of 8-12-09; Executive order of 9-14-10; Executive order of 9-29-11; Ord. No. 4487, § 3; Executive order of 3-27-18; Executive order of 9-9-19; Ord. No. 4529, § 2, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 4575, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 4604, § 2(Exh. A), 10-21-25)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-42 Outside city.

Sec. 25-42. - Outside city. The city shall charge no less than the city residential rates and may charge up to double the city residential rates as provided in the sections of this chapter for water and sanitary sewer service outside the corporate limits of the city. (Code 1962, § 25-62; Ord. No. 3612, § 41, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3624, § 3, 10-21-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 23, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 4177, § 1, 1-9-01)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-43 Reserved.

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-44 When bills due, payable; discontinuing service to delinquents.

Sec. 25-44. - When bills due, payable; discontinuing service to delinquents. (a) All meters shall be read one (1) time per month and, to the extent practicable, shall be read in the same consecutive order each month. Statements shall be mailed out once per month. (b) All billings and collections for water and sanitary sewer service shall be made by the public works department, and all charges for water and sewer service shall be billed to each consumer on a combined monthly bill. The combined bill shall list thereon the separate charges for each service, and the total combined water and sewer bill shall be paid as hereinafter provided, and it may be permissible to accept the payment of less than the amount of the combined bill. (c) All water and sanitary sewer bills shall be due monthly and shall be paid to the city clerk at the city hall, and the failure of any consumer to pay his combined water and sanitary sewer bill within fourteen (14) business days after the bill date shall constitute default and incur a late fee of five dollars ($5.00). The public works department may shut off and discontinue all water service to any consumer who fails to pay his combined water and sanitary sewer bills within such time. The deposits provided for herein shall not be used in automatic settlement of current water and sanitary sewer bills, but shall be applied only in payment of past due water and sanitary sewer bills in cases where default has been made and water supply has been shut off by reason of, default. No further water service shall be supplied to any consumer in default until all past due bills and the charge hereafter provided have been paid in full and total amount of the deposits required hereunder has been reestablished. A collection fee, as allowed by law, may be made for the special handling of each bad check. An additional collection fee may be added to any consumer's bill each time it is necessary that a city employee or bill collector employed or retained by the city must call upon such customer or otherwise make an effort to collect a bill more than thirty (30) days delinquent. (d) Hold agreements: Once a final notice has been issued on an account the entire amount is due. No "hold" will be placed on delinquent accounts except under the following circumstances. If a customer has extenuating circumstances, such as a death in the family, the loss of a job or illness, which will prevent full payment before the cutoff date, the customer or his/her official designee may come to the office and request payment arrangements, hereinafter described as a "hold" agreement. No "hold" agreement will be made over the phone. The customer or his/her official designee must appear in person at the department's business office to sign the "hold" agreement. The director or his designee shall have the discretion to make or refuse such a "hold" agreement based upon the extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis, considering each customer's prior request(s) for such an agreement and any prior abuse of the system by that customer. The following minimum guidelines will be used in determining payment arrangements, if any: (a) length of time account has been established, (b) date of last payment, and (c) payment history. Any member of the department's business office staff is authorized to enter into a "hold" agreement for accounts up to seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and up to ten (10) days past the due date. Any request for the extension of such an agreement past the initial ten-day period or respecting an amount in excess of seventy-five dollars ($75.00), must receive prior approval by the director or his designee. If the customer does not perform the "hold" agreement as promised, penalties and service charges as otherwise outlined in this chapter shall apply. (Code 1962, § 25-64; Ord. No. 3612, § 28, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 24, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 4194, 9-18-01; Ord. No. 4383, § 5, 4-5-11; Ord. No. 4440, § 1, 6-17-14; Ord. No. 4454, § 1, 3-5-15)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-47 Rates to be uniform; discrimination prohibited.

Sec. 25-47. - Rates to be uniform; discrimination prohibited. The water rates provided by this chapter shall apply to all consumers alike, and no employee of the public works department shall grant any reduction therein to any consumer or make any discrimination in rates or service except as otherwise authorized by city ordinance or this chapter. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code of Ordinances. (Code 1962, § 25-67; Ord. No. 3612, § 33, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 25, 5-18-93)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-48 Delinquent using name of another to obtain water prohibited.

Sec. 25-48. - Delinquent using name of another to obtain water prohibited. Water shall not be supplied to any premises, either directly or indirectly, when the occupancy is in arrears at the place then occupied. While property may be titled in the name of a company, corporation or other legal entity, each legal entity must list an individual as the point of contact. If any company, corporation or other legal entity has common ownership or has the same point of contact cannot obtain water if any of the related legal entities are in arrears. This section is intended to prevent the use of another's name, by subterfuge, in order to obtain a water supply by a delinquent. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code of Ordinances. (Code 1962, § 25-68; Ord. No. 3612, § 17, 8-4-81; Ord. No. 3955, § 26, 5-18-93; Ord. No. 4575, 6-20-23)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-49 Supplying water to sublessee when original tenant in default prohibited.

Sec. 25-49. - Supplying water to sublessee when original tenant in default prohibited. Water shall not be turned on or supplied for a sublessee of any premises when the original tenant is in default for water supplied to the same premises so long as the premises or any part thereof are occupied by the person in default. (Code 1962, § 25-69; Ord. No. 3612, § 16, 8-4-81)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 25-50 Temporary offs.

Sec. 25-50. - Temporary offs. When the water supply of any consumer is shut off on a temporary basis, at the consumer's request, a charge of thirty dollars ($30.00) shall be collected in advance for the total expense of turning off and restoring the water supply. (Ord. No. 4383, § 7, 4-5-11)

Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25WASE_ARTIIRAFetched: 11/1/2026