Facts & Statistics

The rate schedule set forth contemplates a single user, such as one family dwelling, one farm dwelling with appurtenances, or one commercial operation, and will not be changed without prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Guntersville. Extraordinary circumstances, such as subdivision extensions, multiple dwelling units, industrial users shall be governed by special contract agreements made by the Board of Directors.

The Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Guntersville requires a Security Deposit from all customers. The following guidelines apply:

Residential - Irrigation - Small Business Accounts

A cash security deposit for residential and small business customers with meter size of 3/4" — 1" shall be an amount of $150.00.

Food and Beverage Establishments

A cash security deposit for food establishment customers with a meter size of 3/4" — 1" shall be an amount on attached of $250.00.

Food and Beverage establishments are defined as a customer who may have food or beverage service, sell for consumption or package, or any type of food and beverage service (wholsesale etc.). These accounts would include restaurants, fast food establishments, delis, convenience stores, grocery stores, package stores, liquor stores, bars, bar and grills.

Commercial and Industrial

Security deposits for commercial and industrial accounts with meter sizes of 1" or larger will be an amount on rate schedule available here.

Deposit for commercial and industrial accounts are based on historical usage at the distention served. If no historical data is available, the deposit amount is based on comparable facility usage.

The amount of the security deposit is equivalent to two months average usage or an amount on rate schedule — whichever is greater.

The following options are for commercial and industrial accounts acceptable at the customer's discretion:

• Cash - No interest paid on this form of security deposit.
• Certificate of Deposit - At time of purchase the Water Works and Sewer Board should be consulted for correct terminology of issuance guidelines. Earned interest on CD is payable to customer.
• Surety or Indemnity Bond - Contact Water Works and Sewer Board to obtain requirements.
• Irrevocable Letter of Credit - Contact Water Works and Sewer Board to obtain requirements.
• It is the responsibility of the customer to maintain and keep their deposit in force for the duration of the account. Service is subject to termination if requirements are not met.

Each consumer subscribing to use the service of the Corporation shall pay a connection fee times the number of connections desired. See rate schedule.

Thereafter, each consumer subscribing to use the service of the Corporation shall pay a connection fee times the number of connections desired or the actual cost of installations, whichever is greater.

An impact fee for each new service will be charged according to the rate schedule available here. Impact fees are based on service (meter) size and are charged to all new services,* in that each new service will have a demand or impact on the service, infrastructure and system development of the Guntersville Water and Sewer Board.* New Service - Defined as any permanent meters set for new structures, homes or business that will add to the customer base of the system.

The minimum charge, as provided in the rate schedule, shall be made for each connection subscribed for under the provisions in the rate schedule. Water and Sewer service for a given lot shall be used on that lot only. Each consumer's service must be separately metered at a single delivery and metering point. Except for fire protection, the Corporation will not under any conditions furnish water to anyone free of charge.

The Corporation shall run a service line from its distribution line to the property line where the distribution line exists, or is to be constructed, and runs immediately adjacent and parallel to the property to be served. No service charge, other than the connecting fee referred to in the rate schedule will be made for 5/8" x ¾" meter. A proportionately greater charge will be made for a meter of a larger dimension. (see Tap fee section on rate schedule) The Corporation may make connections to service other properties not adjacent to its lines. The corporation may install its meter at or near the property line or the Corporation's option, on the on the consumer's property within 3 feet of the property line. The Corporation reserves the right to refuse service unless the consumer's lines or piping are installed in such a manner as to prevent cross-connections or back flow. Under normal conditions, the consumer will be notified of any anticipated interruption of service.

Where the meter or meter box is placed on the premises of a consumer, a suitable place shall be provided by the consumer therefore , unobstructed and accessible at all times to the meter reader. The consumer shall furnish and maintain a private cut off valve on the consumer's side of the meter, the Corporation is to provide a like valve on its side of such meter. The consumer's piping and apparatus shall be installed and maintained by the consumer at the consumer's expense, in a safe and effective manner and accordance with the Corporations rules and regulations and in the full compliance with the sanitary regulations of the State Health Department. Water and sewer service furnished by the Corporation shall be used for consumption by the consumer, members of the household and employees only. The consumer shall not sell water to any other person or permit any other person to use said water and sewer service. Water shall not be used for irrigation, fire protection, nor any other purposes, except when water is available in sufficient quantity without interfering with regular domestic consumption in the area it is served. Disregard for this rule shall be sufficient cause for refusal or discontinuance of service.

Duly authorized agents of the Corporation shall have access at all reasonable hours, to the premises of the consumer, for the purpose of installing or removing Corporation property, inspecting piping, reading and testing meters or for any other purpose in connection with the Corporation service and facilities. Extension to the system shall be made only when the consumer shall grant and convey, or shall cause to be granted or conveyed, to the corporation a permanent easement or right of way across any property tranversed by the lines.

Not less than three days notice must be given in person or in writing, at the corporation office, to discontinue service or to change occupancy. The outgoing party shall be responsible for all water consumed up to the time of departure or the time specified for departure whichever period is the longest. The new occupant will apply for water service within 48 hours after occupying the premises and failure to do so will make him liable for water consumed since the meter was last read.

Meters will be read and bills rendered monthly, but the Corporation reserves the right to vary the dates or length of period covered, temporarily or permanently if nesecessary or desirable. Bills for water and sewer will be figured in accordance with the corporation's rate schedule and will be based on the amount consumed for the period covered by the meter readings except where a consumer orders turn-off less than one month after turn on the minimum bill to such consumer for such a period shall be equal to the minimum charge for one full months service. Consumer subscribing for water and sewer pursuant to Section, CHARGES FOR USERS AGREEING TO USE SERVICE , will commence payment of at least a minimum water and sewer bill when water and sewer are available whether or not a meter is installed.

Readings for different meters will not be combined for billing. Bills shall be paid for at a place specified by the Corporation. Bills are due when rendered, delinquent after 10 days and 10% penalty shall automatically be added to such bills if not paid within a 10 day period. Failure to receive bills or notices shall not prevent such bills from becoming delinquent nor relieve the consumer from payment.

The Corporation hereby finds and determines that it is essential to the proper sanitation of the city and to the health of its inhabitants that all property available to sewers be connected to the sewer system. Property available means any house, tenement, building or other structure which is located within the corporate limits of the city and part of which is within two hundred feet of a public sanitary sewer. The owner of any property available to sewers shall be and hereby is required, within thirty days following completion of sewer lines, to connect with the sewer system all water closets, urinals, sinks, lavatories, laundry tubs, bath tubs, and other fixtures of whatever kind and character from which water is wasted on such property. After the expiration of said thirty day period, it shall be unlawful for the owner of any property available to sewers to keep or maintain any surface closets, dry closets or cesspools upon such property, or to keep or maintain upon such property any fixture from which water is wasted and which is not connected with the sewer system. Any person violating the provisions shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. In the event the owner of any property available to sewers does not cause the required connection of such property to the sewer system to be made, the Corporation may cause such connections to be made at the expense of the property's owner.

When Services are discontinued, and all water and sewer bills have been paid, the security deposit will be refunded. Upon discontinuance of service for nonpayment of water and sewer bills, the security deposit will be applied by the Corporation toward settlement of the account. Any balance will be refunded to the consumer but if the security deposit is not sufficient to cover the bill, the Corporation may proceed to collect the balance in the usual way provided by law for the collection of debts. Service disconnected for nonpayment of water and sewer bills will be restored only after bills are paid in full, such security deposit as may be required by the Corporation is made, and a service charge of $75.00 paid for each meter reconnected. A fee of $35.00 will be charged for each payment that is returned for insufficient funds or accounts closed. The Corporation reserves the right to discontinue its service without notice for the following reasons:

• To prevent fraud or abuse.
• Consumers willful disregard of the Corporation's rules.
• Emergency repairs.
• Insufficiency of water supply due to circumstances beyond the Corporation's control.
• Legal processes.
• Direction of public authorities.
• Strike, riot, flood, accident or any unavoidable cause.
• The Corporation may, in addition to prosecution by law, permanently refuse service to any consumer who tampers with a meter or other measuring device.

In the event evidence provides that a meter or meter set has been tampered with, the fee associated with the tampering depends on the damage incurred. For water service to be restored relating to a tampering incident, the full customer balance must be paid before service is restored.

• General Tampering - Any removal or destruction of any meter or meter set part. The removal of any lock, etc. This type of tampering will result in a fee of $200.00.
• Extreme Tampering - In the event of situations where evidence provides that a meter was destroyed or the internal components compromised, rendering the meter useless, a fee of $400.00 will be added to the customer billing.

Disputes on matters above will be settled by the board of directors of the Guntersville Water Board.