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In addition, MCES: <br />•Works with approximately 850 <br />industrial clients to substantially reduce the <br />amount of pollution entering our wastewater <br />collection system. <br />• Partners with a variety of communities and <br />organizations to monitor and analyze water <br />resources in the region. <br />•Analyzes and plans for water supply in the <br />region. <br />• Ensures sufficient sewer capacity exists to <br />serve planned future development. <br />CHALLENGES AND <br />OPPORTUNITIES <br />The challenges facing the Environmental <br />Services Division include: <br />• Meeting regulatory requirements that <br />continue to get more stringent. <br />• Maintaining competitive wastewater rates <br />and charges. <br />• Meeting customer expectations for <br />high-quality wastewater services and <br />engagement in MCES decisions. <br />• Supporting proactive programs to prevent <br />inflow and infiltration of clear water into the <br />regional sewer system. <br />• Maintaining and rehabilitating aging <br />wastewater facilities and equipment. <br />• Financing necessary capital projects while <br />minimizing borrowing costs. <br />• Collaboratively researching and planning for <br />regional water sustainability with our partners. <br />• Providing a productive and safe workplace <br />for employees. <br />• Pursuing environmentally friendly and <br />cost-effective energy solutions. <br />OPERATIONS <br />SOURCES OF FUNDS <br />The wastewater functions of MCES, which is <br />run as a governmental enterprise, are entirely <br />funded by user fees. The Council's rate -setting <br />philosophy is that users should pay the regional <br />cost of service. Revenues include the <br />metropolitan wastewater charge (MWC) <br />allocated to customer municipalities based on <br />flow volume, industry -specific retail charges <br />B-3 <br />based on service provided, sewer availability <br />charges to municipalities (SAC) based on <br />capacity demand, and miscellaneous revenues. <br />2015 Environmental Services Division <br />Operating Budget - Sources of Funds: $250.4 Million <br />2% State $5.7 <br />1 1% Other $3.7 <br />Industrial Waste <br />Charges $14.3 <br />Service <br />Availability <br />Charges <br />$36.0 <br />15% <br />76% <br />Municipal <br />Wastewater <br />Charges <br />$190.7 <br />Metropolitan Wastewater Charge (MWC). <br />Communities pay MCES for the flow entering <br />the regional wastewater system from within <br />each of their boundaries. Each community pays <br />a municipal wastewater charge based on their <br />flow and a uniform rate for wastewater services. <br />Total revenue from MWC in 2015 is budgeted to <br />increase 3.54%, but charges to individual cities <br />will vary depending on how much a city's flow <br />differs from the average. For example, if a city's <br />flow increases more than the increase in the <br />system's average flow, that city's MWCs will go <br />up more than 3.54%. <br />Metropolitan Sewer Availability Charges <br />(SAC). Communities pay MCES for additional <br />capacity required by new development or <br />increased industrial or commercial use. <br />Communities typically collect these upfront <br />SAC fees from property owners at the time they <br />issue a building permit. Generally, one SAC unit <br />equals 274 gallons of potential daily wastewater <br />flow capacity. A freestanding single-family <br />residence is charged one SAC unit. Each <br />community pays MCES the metropolitan rate <br />for SAC, but communities can add local fees <br />and thus charge higher rates. The metropolitan <br />SAC rate will not increase for 2015 and remains <br />at $2,485 per residence or equivalent unit. <br />The SAC revenue by law is used to finance <br />the reserve capacity portion of capital project <br />costs (or debt service) to build and maintain the <br />wastewater system. Reserve capacity (the <br />