Measuring, billing and collecting within the city.

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-96

in effect

Sec. 56-96. - Measuring, billing and collecting within the city. (a) For customers whose sewage charges are computed on the basis of the metered volume of water into the premises, the manager of transportation and infrastructure shall determine such volume during a winter billing period and apply the rate for sewage charges to that volume for all billing periods; provided, however, that for such customers whose premises are used for purposes other than residential, unless the premises are designated for an "other sewer items" (OSI) account, the manager shall apply the rate for sewage charges to that volume of water into the premises during the period for which the service is billed. (b) If a lot, parcel of land, building or premises within the legal boundaries of the city connected to and discharging sewage, industrial wastes, water or liquid into the sanitary sewerage system of the city is not connected to the water distribution system of the board of water commissioners but receives either in whole or in part water from wells or any source of supply other than the board, then such wells or other sources of supply shall be registered with the manager of transportation and infrastructure. If the water from such wells or other sources of supply is not measured by a water meter, or is measured by a water meter not acceptable to the manager, then in such case, the owner shall install and maintain at the owner's expense water meters satisfactory to the manager of the water supply connections, and the quantity of water which is measured by a single meter or the sum of the quantities measured by several meters and which subsequently is contributed to the sewer shall be used to determine the sewerage service charge. (c) Where it can be shown to the satisfaction of the manager of transportation and infrastructure that a portion of the water volume as measured by the aforesaid meters does not enter the sanitary sewerage system of the city, then the manager will require or permit the installation of additional approved meters at the owner's expense in such manner as to measure the sanitary sewerage discharge from the lot, parcel of land, building or premises of such owner, and the quantity of sewage actually entering the sewerage system as so determined. (d) Charges for sanitary sewerage service within the city shall be computed by the manager of transportation and infrastructure and, in the discretion of the manager, shall be billed by the manager or transmitted to the board of water commissioners for billing, payment and collection in the same manner as board charges for water service furnished by the board. Details of any agreed conjunctive billing, payment and collecting system shall be the subject of a contractual relationship between the manager and the board. (e) If the owner of any lot, parcel of land, building or premises within the legal boundaries of the city connected to and discharging sewage, industrial wastes, water or liquid into the sanitary sewerage system of the city shall neglect, fail or refuse to pay the rates, charges or fees fixed by this division for the connection with and use of the sanitary sewerage system of the city, the rates, charges or fees due therefor may, by the manager of transportation and infrastructure, be periodically certified to the manager of finance who shall record a notice of such lien with the clerk and recorder. Such rates, charges or fees due therefor shall become, from and after the date of such recording of the notice in the office of the clerk and recorder, a continuing lien upon the real property so served by the sewer connection. The manager of finance shall assess and charge the amounts of rates, charges or fees due against the property involved, and collect the same, plus interest thereon, in the manner as are delinquent real property taxes. The lien created hereby shall be superior and prior to all other liens, regardless of their dates of recordation, except liens for general taxes and special assessments. In addition to the remedies set forth herein, an action or other process provided by law may be maintained by the city to recover or collect any amounts, including interest, owing under this provision. Provided, however, that when the failure to pay such rates, charges or fees due is the result of incorrect billing by the manager of transportation and infrastructure, the owner shall only be billed, with the related certification and notice, if any, for not more than two (2) years prior to the mailing of a corrected billing. (Code 1950, § 167.5; Ord. No. 49-80, § 5, 1-28-80; Ord. No. 187-80, § 1, 4-21-80; Ord. No. 73-83, § 1, 1-31-83; Ord. No. 78-87, §§ 32, 33, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 11-93, § 2, 1-4-93; Ord. No. 464-98, § 9, 7-6-98; Ord. No. 775-07, § 229, 12-26-07; Ord. No. 267-11, § 6, 5-16-11; Ord. No. 39-20, § 240, 2-3-20)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH56UT_ARTIIISE_DIV3SASECHMAWA_S56-96MEBICOWICIFetched: 10/27/2026