(1) Councilmanic Examination: Council shall from time to time investigate and in connection therewith employ qualified consultants to advise the Council with respect to sewer rates in the same manner as authorized by Section 13-101(1) with respect to water rates, and to submit their findings directly to Council.

(2) Standards for Rates and Charges:[6] Pursuant to Section 5-801 of the Charter, the Water Department shall fix and regulate rates and charges for supplying sewage disposal services, without further authorization of Council, in accordance with the following standards:

(a) The rates and charges shall be such as shall yield to the City at least an amount equal to operating expenses, including interest and sinking fund charges on all obligations of the City in respect of the sewer system, and, in respect of water and sewer revenue obligations of the City, such additional amounts as, together with additional amounts charged in respect of the City's water system, may be required to comply with any rate covenant and sinking fund reserve requirements approved by ordinance of Council in connection with the authorization or issuance of water and sewer revenue bonds, and proportionate charges for all services performed for the Water Department by all officers, departments, boards or commissions of the City.

(b) The rates and charges shall yield not more than the total appropriation from the Sewer Fund to the Water Department and all other departments, boards or commissions, plus a reasonable sum to cover unforeseeable or unusual expenses or diminutions in expected revenue, less the cost of supplying sewage disposal service to City facilities and, in addition, such amounts as, together with additional amounts charged in respect of the City's water system, shall be required to comply with any rate covenant and sinking fund reserve requirements approved by ordinance of Council in connection with the authorization or issuance of water and sewer bonds. Such rates and charges may provide for sufficient revenue to stabilize them over a reasonable number of years.

(c) The rates and charges shall be equitably apportioned among the various classes of consumers.

(d) The rates and charges shall be just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory as to the same class of consumers.

(e) Special rates and charges, to be designated as "charity sewer rates and charges," shall be established for public and private schools, institutions of purely public charity, and places used for actual religious worship.[7]

(f) Special rates and charges, to be designated as "public housing sewer rates and charges" shall be established for property of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and shall be set so that the Philadelphia Housing Authority receives a five percent (5%) reduction off of the Water Department's service and quantity charges.[8]

(g) Special rates and charges to be designated "Federal facilities rates and charges" shall be established for designated Federal facilities within the boundaries of the City of Philadelphia which make financial contributions to the City of Philadelphia equal to 100 percent of the capital costs of the reconstruction, upgrading and improvement of that portion of the City of Philadelphia's Water Pollution Abatement facilities allocated for the use of the federal facility.[9]

(3) Charge Where City Water Not Used: For properties which use other than City supplied water, the charge for sewage disposal service shall be based upon the quantity of water discharged into the sewer system. A meter or other measuring device satisfactory to the Water Department shall be installed by the consumer and the charge for such service shall be comparable to that charged for sewage disposal service for City water having a meter of equal size.

(4) Charge Where City Water Not Discharged Into Sewage Disposal System: Where commercial and industrial properties which use City water do not discharge all or part of such water into the sewage disposal system of the city, the quantity of such water may be excluded in determining the proper sewage service charge, provided, the minimum sewage service charge, as established by regulation of the Water Department, is not reduced thereby. To determine the amount of such exclusion, the consumer shall install a meter or measuring device satisfactory to the Water Department; provided, that if, in the opinion of the Water Department, it is not feasible to install a meter or measuring device, some other satisfactory method of measuring may be designated by the Water Department.

(5) Notice of Proposed Changes: The Water Department shall give written notice to Council at least 30 days in advance of the filing of notice of any proposed change in rates or charges or of any proposed revision in service rates, and shall submit therewith financial, engineering and other data upon which the proposed sewer rates and charges are based. Proposed revisions of rates to be made within 90 days prior to the enactment of the next annual operating budget shall be submitted to Council forthwith.[10]

(6) Annual Report: Sewer rates and charges shall be reviewed by the Water Department at least once a year, and a report thereof shall be submitted to Council.[11]