Sewer Use Fee Appeals Process

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Instructions and Sewer Use Fee Appeal Process

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
FOR THE CITY OF NORWALK
Instructions for Billing Adjustments and Sewer Use Fee Appeals

SEWER USE BILLING APPEALS

Chapter 113, Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA), of the Code of the City of Norwalk approved by the Common Council on March 26, 2002 states the following about sewer use billing appeals:

§ 113-15. Appeals

  • Pursuant to Chapter 103, Section 7-255 of the Connecticut General Statutes, users shall be notified of proposed revisions to or establishment of sewer use charges by publication in a newspaper having general circulation in the community.  Any user shall have the opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed changes at a public hearing held before the WPCA.  After the WPCA has established or revised such charges, it shall cause the same to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the community not later than five days after filing such charges with the Office of the City Clerk.  Any user aggrieved by such charges may submit an appeal to the WPCA within 21 days after such filing.
  • Any user wishing to appeal their sewer use bill based on water consumption or use classification shall do so in writing within 45 days from the installment due date.  The Director of Public Works or his designee shall review the appeal and inform the user in writing of the decision within 15 days of receipt of the written appeal.  If the problem remains unresolved after a written decision from the Director, the user has 10 days from receipt of the Director’s decision to request in writing a further review by the WPCA.  The WPCA will investigate the appeal and send its decision to the user in writing within 5 days after its next regular monthly meeting following receipt of the request.
  • Any user wishing to appeal their sewer use bill because they believe a clerical omission or mistake was made shall do so no later than three years following the installment due date.
  • Any person aggrieved by any final decision of the WPCA may appeal to the Superior Court and shall bring any such appeal to a return day of said court not less than 12 or more than 30 days after service thereof. The judgment of the Court shall be final
APPEALS PROCESS

The WPCA has established the following procedures for consideration of appeals:

Use Rate Charges: Persons wishing to appeal a change in the use rates shall contact the WPCA in writing no more than 30 days after date of the publication of the rate and state the basis for the appeal.  The Director of Public Works or his designee, at his discretion, shall present the appeal request to the WPCA Board of Directors for consideration.

Use Classification: Customers wishing to appeal a change in their use classification shall complete a Sewer Use Fee Appeal Form obtained by contacting the City of Norwalk’s Public Works Call Center within 45 days after in the installment due date.  The Director of Public Works or his designee shall review the appeal and send the customer a decision within 15 days of receipt of the completed appeal form.  If the problem remains unresolved after a written decision from the Director of Public Works, the customer has 10 days to request in writing a further review by the WPCA Board of Directors.  The WPCA Board of Directors will investigate the appeal and send its decision to the customer in writing within 5 days after its next regular monthly meeting following receipt of the request.

Water Consumption Adjustments: For those customers who use more than 110,000 gallons and can show they discharge significantly less wastewater into the sanitary sewer system than water consumed, the WPCA – at its sole discretion – can make a one-time adjustment to the volume assessment portion of the sewer use bill.  Customers who require on-going, yearly water consumption adjustments shall follow the procedure outlined in the Billing Adjustment section of this document. Customers wishing to appeal the volume assessment shall contact the City of Norwalk’s Public Works Call Center within 45 days after the installment die date and complete a Sewer Use Fee Appeal Form.  The appeal form shall be reviewed by the Department of Public Works and if necessary the customer will be contacted to provide additional information supporting why an adjustment in the volume assessment should be made.  Additional information used in this determination may include certified engineering studies, copies of water bills, installation of a sewer flow meters, etc.  The Director of Public Works or his designee shall review the appeal and supporting documentation and send the customer a decision within 15 days of receipt of the completed appeal form and receipt of additional documentation.  If the problem remains unresolved after a written decision from the Director of Public Works, the customer has 10 days to request in writing a further review by the WPCA Board of Directors.  The WPCA Board of Directors will investigate the appeal and send its decision to the customer in writing within 5 days after its next regular monthly meeting following receipt of the request.

Clerical Errors and Omissions: Customers wishing to appeal because they believe a clerical error or omission was made to their bill shall complete a Sewer Use Fee Appeal Form obtained by contacting the City of Norwalk’s Public Works Call Center within 3 years after in the installment due date.  The Director of Public Works or his designee shall review the appeal and send the customer a decision within 15 days of receipt of the completed appeal form.  If the problem remains unresolved after a written decision from the Director of Public Works, the customer may appeal to the WPCA Board of Directors at its next scheduled meeting.  The WPCA Board of Directors will investigate the appeal and send its decision to the customer in writing within 5 days after its next regular monthly meeting following receipt of the request.

Upon approval of the Director of Public Works or the WPCA Board, the Department of Public Works will send the Tax Assessor’s Office and the Finance Department a Sewer Use Fee Adjustment Form to process a credit, adjust the bill and/or make billing changes.