sewer_allocation_policy_102925_smv.pdf

Exactly as extracted, unformatted — for checking against the original. The readable version is easier to read.

Town of Centreville
Water and Sewer Allocation Policy
Draft 2025 Formatted: Font: 11 pt
1.PURPOSE December 2024 Draft
a. The Environment Article, Title 9, Subtitle 5, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, enables The
Town Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plans to provide for the orderly expansion of public
water supply and sewer systems in a manner consistent with applicable Town Comprehensive
Plans. The statutory authority and regulatory requirements, as codified in the Code of Maryland
Regulations 26.03.03, provide the basis for the establishment of allocation policies for water
supply and sewerage services.
b. To provide guidance for the allocation of available water and sewer capacity for the Town of
Centreville.
c. To provide public knowledge and awareness regarding available capacity in public water and
wastewater facilities.
d. To establish a procedure for equitable allocation of available capacity for public water and
wastewater systems in such a manner as to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and water
quality of the Town.
e. To responsibly plan for the future growth of the Town of Centreville in accordance with the
Town’s land use and growth management goals and objectives, as established in the 2040
Comprehensive Plan, adopted on December 14, 2023.
f. To wisely manage The Town of Centreville’s water supply and sewerage treatment resources and
to prevent the depletion of underlying water-bearing aquifers or the over-commitment of
available sewer treatment capacity.
f.g. To establish policies such that the allocations available between now and 2031 when the new
wastewater treatment plant comes online are divided among the intervening years in order to
provide a highly predictable development environment.
g. To establish target water and sewer allocation reservations for the available capacity between
residential uses, commercial and industrial uses, and infill development. as follows: Information
below from May 2024 TOC Sewer Capacity
(a) 66,822 gallons per day to residential use. (minor or major subdivisions) (334 EDUs) Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level: 1 +
(b) 22,200 (25% of available) gallons per day for select commercial and institutional uses, which Numbering Style: a, b, c, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment:
shall not include commercial apartments. (111 EDUs) Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5"
h. (c) 9,000 gallons per day for residential infill uses. (currently at 45 EDU/vac. lots)
h.i. To ensure that sufficient revenue is available to make payments for a cost-effective way to cover
bond indebtedness from the construction of public water and sewer systems.
i.j. To provide an administrative procedure and guidance for the allocation of water and sewer
services in a reasonable, fair, and adequate manner.
j.k. For the calendar year of 2019, the Town of Centreville Wastewater Treatment Plant reached an
annual average gallons per day (gpd) flows at 82% of its 542,000 gpd design capacity. At 80% of
the design capacity, the Maryland Department of the Environment guidelines require an annual
update to and submission of the Capacity Management Plan. The current plan is a part of this
policy as “Exhibit A” and will be updated each year, until the annual average gpd is below 80%.
2. DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise defined in the Charter and Code of the Town of Centreville, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:
a. EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit) - a standard unit of measure equal to the estimated daily sewer
flow related to a single-family residential unit. The standard unit shall be equivalent to 200
gallons per day (GPD).
b. Existing Lot – a recorded parcel of land, as of December 1, 2005, eligible for development
according to prevailing and applicable zoning ordinances.
c. Existing Subdivision – a parcel of land documented with a recorded plat having received final
approval by the Centreville Planning Commission prior to December 1, 2005.
d. Water and Sewer Connection Fees - collectable from the owner upon application for a
building permit, these fees shall offset the operating and administrative expenses to the
Town related to establishing new connections to the water and sewer systems of the Town.
These fees shall be collected in accordance with each unit or utility billing account to be
established related to the project.
e. Water and Sewer Allocation Fees – collectable from the owner as described herein, these fees
shall offset the current and planned debt service for CAPITAL expenditures related to
providing water and sewer services to the Town of Centreville. These fees shall be
established, calculated and collected as provided for in this chapter.
f. Allocation – the reserved commitment of water and sewer service for a proposed or planned
project. The allocation shall be comprised of the number of EDUs required for a project and shall
be based on a specific use and scope as indicated in the drawings and documentation submitted to
the Town.
g. (Minor Residential Subdivision 4> lot) (4 lots or less) Formatted: Font color: Text 1
h. (Major Residential Subdivision >5 lots) (5 lots or less
Commented [CB1]: This is based on our fee schedule.
Our Zoning code does not identify major or minor
3. CALCULATION OF EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT (EDU) REQUIREMENTS
subdivisions so we go based on the fee schedule.
a. The allocation for a single-family residential unit shall require one EDU.
Formatted: Font color: Text 1
b. For other than a single-family residential unit, the number of EDUs required for a project shall be Formatted: Font color: Text 1
based on the specific use and scope as presented to the Town.
c. Unless otherwise provided for below, the calculation of the number of EDUs required for a
project shall be based on “MDE GUIDELINES FOR ESTIMATING WATER AND/OR
WASTEWATER FLOW” Revised July 20106 (“MDE Guidance”), attached as Exhibit “B” or Commented [CB2]: The original language added was
corresponding future provision thereof, which shall be effective within the Town of Centreville from Resolution 10-2017 which was referenced
upon adoption by the State of Maryland without further action of the Town Council. The incorrectly. This was updated via Resolution 01-2019
following specific uses shall be modified from the MDE Guidance as now exists or as is adopted with the correct MDE guideline reference.
in the future: Single family residences 200 gpd
d. If a project is not adequately addressed in the table described in subsection c above, the Town Commented [KE3]: For clarity
may consult its engineer or other technical resources to estimate the required EDUs.
e. The Town may also consider historical or representative data from similar projects of like use and
scope in calculating the required EDUs for a project.
f. The calculation of the required EDUs shall result in whole numbers. If the division of total
estimated flow by 200 GPD results in a fractional portion, the result shall be rounded up to the
nearest whole number. Each demised premise shall require a minimum of 1, one (1) EDU. Commented [JP4]: Should there be a number figure
g. The Town shall monitor water use as an indication of actual sewer flows. Sewer flow shall be here?
85% of the metered water consumption. The sewer charge as it appears on the utility bill shall be
Commented [CM5R4]: 1, One
pre-calculated to 85% of the water for the metered consumption. Unless otherwise provided in a
Public Works Agreement iIf, after a minimum of one year, the required EDUs calculation Commented [KE6R4]: I put it in there
underestimated or overestimated the required flow by 200 GPD or more, the Town shall be
Formatted: Not Highlight
entitled or required to make the respective adjustment. If the Town is entitled to collect for
additional allocation, the fee shall be calculated using the rate applicable at the time of the Formatted: Not Highlight

original approval. If the Town overestimated the required flow, the owner shall receive a refund
of the applicable allocation fee, less a 10% administrative fee, based on the rate applicable at the
time of the original approval. Assessments for additional allocations or refunds are to be
calculated using only whole numbered EDUs as described in subsection f. above. Commented [KE7]: For clarity
4. AUTHORITY
a. The authority to approve the allocation of water and sewer capacity shall reside with the Town
Council of Centreville.
b. The Town Council may delegate the administrative functions related to water and sewer
allocations to the Town Manager.
5. ADMINISTRATION
a. The Capacity Management Plan, and its amendmentsattached Allocation Distribution Plan (the
“Plan”), shall provide for the general distribution of available sewer capacity to be approved by
the Town Council. The Plan divides available capacity into specific use categories to be available
within a given period of time. Allocations shall be available within a given category on a “first
come – first serve” basis, subject to the provisions of this chapter and the priority system set forth
in the Plan to meet municipal objectives for the public good and for health, safety, and general
welfare..
b. Projects within each category shall generally be considered eligible to reserve water and sewer
capacity in the time order in which they received Conditional Final Site Plan or Conditional Final
Subdivision approval from the Planning Commission, including any contingent requirements as Commented [CB8]: We can have a discussion about
prescribed by the Planning Commission., exclusive of projects within a Planned Business this. Our Zoning Code requires final site plan
Development or Planned Redevelopment Area as prescribed in Section V. (d), (1). approval/subdivision approval before they can reserve
c. Unless otherwise covered by a Public Works Agreement, projects receiving conditional final site allocations. This was the only way for us to hold off
plan or conditional final subdivision approval from the Planning Commission prior to December Carter Farm from applying for their allocations.
1, 2005, shall be subject to the following: Commented [SV9]: I assume that anything before
1. Within 90 days of effective date of this policy, an owner may reserve the allocations December 1, 2005 has long since expired.
required for their project by submitting an application to the Town Council.
2. The application for the required allocations shall include a non-refundable deposit of 20%
of the prevailing water and sewer allocation fees.
3. The water and sewer allocation shall be considered reserved for a period of one year from
the date of approval by the Town Council.
4. The remaining balance due for water and sewer allocations shall be payable upon the
submittal of an application for building permit.
5. Reserved water and sewer allocations shall expire if the related application for a building Commented [KE10]: “a” or “the” but I feel like
permit is not received within one year of initial approval by the Town Council. something should be there.
6. Expiration of reserved allocations shall not warrant a refund of the 20% deposit or
interest which may have been generated from the payment of expired water and sewer
allocations.
7. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Town Council may consider a request for a
six-month extension of allocations if such requests are submitted in writing at least 30
days prior to expiration. An owner shall be eligible for one (1) six-month extension for a
Commented [CB11]: We can have a discussion about
project.
this. Our Zoning Code requires final site plan
d.c. Allocations for projects receiving Conditional Final Site Plan or Conditional Final
approval/subdivision approval before they can reserve
SubdivisionConcept or Tentative Sketch Plan approvals for a site plan or subdivision from the allocations. This was the only way for us to hold off
Carter Farm from applying for their allocations.

Planning Commission after December 1, 2005, and having met all requirements as prescribed by
the Planning Commission, shall be available as follows unless otherwise provided for in a Public
Works Agreement or Developers Rights and Responsibilities Agreement:;
1. Upon approval of the Conditional Final Site Plan or Conditional Final
SubdivisionConcept Plan, an owner may reserve the allocations required for the project Commented [CB12]: We can have a discussion about
by submitting an application to the Town Council. In the case of a Planned Business this. Our Zoning Code requires final site plan
Development or a Planned Redevelopment Area, for which a master development plan approval/subdivision approval before they can reserve
has been approved by the Planning Commission, projects involving multiple buildings allocations. This was the only way for us to hold off
may reserve allocations predicated upon a Public Works Agreement or Developers Rights Carter Farm from applying for their allocations.
and Responsibilities Agreement approved and executed by the Town Council.
2. The application for the required allocations shall include a non-refundable deposit of 20%
of the prevailing water and sewer allocation fees.
3. The water and sewer allocation shall be considered reserved for a period of one year from
the date of approval by the Town Council.
4. The remaining balance due for water and sewer allocations shall be payable upon the
submittal of an application for a building permit.
5. Reserved water and sewer allocations shall expire if the related application for building
permit is not received within one year of initial approval by the Town Council.
6. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Town Council may consider a request for a
six-month extension of allocations if such requests are submitted in writing at least 30
days prior to expiration. An owner shall be eligible for one (1) six-month extension for a
project.
e.d. To accurately assess the actual use, each demised premise shall be individually metered.
f.e. Unless previously secured as part of the processes described in subsection (c) or subsection(d) Commented [KE13]: Clarity and consistency.
above, the application for the water and sewer allocation and related fees for a project shall be
included with the application for the related building permit.
g.f. If the Town Council denies an application for reservation of water and sewer allocations, the 20%
deposit may be refunded, except for a $1,000 administrative fee and any interest that may have
accrued.
h.g. Projects with approved building permits and having paid all applicable fees may be eligible for a
refund of a portion of the applicable water and sewer allocation fees if the project is not
completed. 20% of the applicable water and sewer allocation fees and any interest that may have
accrued shall be considered non-refundable.
i.h. Building permit fees, related administrative fees and water and sewer connection fees for projects
not completed shall be non-refundable.
j.i. In the case of multi-use, mixed used, “flex” or “shell” buildings or other situations where the final
water and sewer requirements cannot be determined at the time of construction, the owner shall
propose the most likely requirements expected. Subject to approval of the Town, the proposed use
shall determine the allocation fees to be collected in accordance with subsection (d) above. Upon Commented [KE14]: I noticed that some subsection
application for the building permit for the tenant fit out, the actual use and related water and reference are not in parentheses and some are. Either
sewer requirements shall be evaluated and adjusted as needed. one you choose, but just make consistent. My suggestion
k.j. (1) The allocation for a pre-existing building shall be considered to include the flow associated is not use the parentheses.
with its previous use. The previous flow shall be determined using actual consumption data or as Commented [KE15]: More of a question. Is (1)
otherwise provided in section 5.k.3 below. supposed to be under subsection j.? If not, I would
(2) This “grandfathered” flow shall be available for subsequent use of the parcel provided:; remove (1) and start the numbering after below (with the
(a) the utility billing has been paid on a regular basis, and numbers indented).
(b) the façade of the pre-existing building generating flow is maintained, if the building is
contributing to the National Register Historic District.
(3) “Grandfathered” flow shall not be available for subsequent uses when there has been no flow
from the pre-existing building or facility within two years of application, except that one EDU

shall be available for each metered connection that has met the conditions in Section 5. ki (2) (b) Formatted: Not Highlight
above.
(4) There shall be no refunds where the previous flow requirements exceed the subsequent Commented [KE16]: I couldn’t follow the path because
there isn’t anything under subsection i. I think it needs to
requirements of the new use.
be Section 5. k(2)(b).
6. TRANSFERABLITY
a. The award or approval of water and sewer allocations shall be considered specific to the related
parcel of land, as well as the type and scope of project considered during the planning processes.
b. The water and sewer allocations approved related to a specific parcel are bound to that parcel and
shall continue with such parcel upon change of ownership.
c. An owner may not transfer approved or reserved allocations to another project on the same or a Commented [CB17]: This should be changed or
different parcel, regardless of ownership. deleted? Contradicts the previous statement. Think it
should read
7. FEES ...to another project on a different parcel, regardless of
ownership.
a. A water and sewer allocation fee shall be established by the Town Council and shall be
considered to apply on a per EDU basis.
b. The total water and sewer allocation charges for a project shall be calculated by multiplying the
number of required EDUs, as determined in Section 3 above, times the water and sewer allocation
fee.
c. The water and sewer allocation fee shall be reviewed annually to provide adequate revenue for
related capital expenditures.
d. The water and sewer allocation fee established by the Town Council shall continue until modified
by the Council.
8. MONITORING
a. A review of the water and sewer capacity shall occur at least annually by the Town Council. The Commented [KE18]: You had “Shall” twice in one
Town Council may request certain data more frequently in their role as the approval authority. sentence so I re-positioned the words to say the same
b. Included in the annual review, the Town Council shall receive information on: thing.
1. Year beginning and ending annual average daily flow, and
2. Total number of EDUs issued during the year, and
3. Available capacity, as of December 31st, and
4. Pending and approved projects which have not been connected to the system, and
5. Other information deemed relevant to water and sewer capacity.
9. APPLICABILITY
This policy is subject to the availability of water and sewer capacity. The Town is not responsible
for any contingency that affects the timing or ability to connect to the Town’s water and sewer
systems, which is beyond the control of the Town.
10. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy shall be effective on the date of adoption by the Town Council.
Revision: Adopted by the Town Council on XXXX XX, 2025 and effective XXXX XX, 2025
by Resolution XX-2025.

Revision: Adopted by the Town Council on January 10, 2019 and effective January 10, 2019 by
Resolution 01-2019.
Revision: Adopted by the Town Council on June 1, 2017 and effective July 1, 2017 by Resolution 10-
2017.
Revision: Adopted by the Town Council on April 5, 2007 by Resolution No. 03-2007
Original: Adopted by the Town Council on December 22, 2005 by Resolution 05-18
Exhibit A
Capacity Management Report
M
C M P S u
D E 2 0 2
b4 m.0 itta l to
8 .1 6 .p d f
Exhibit B
Flow Calculation Table
Table I - Flow Projection Based Upon Gallons Per Person Per Day
Exhibit C
Sewer Capacity Estimate May 2024
Sewer Capacity
Estimate SCH A 22 5.1.24.xlsx