HARRISVILLE — After Slippery Rock University received a monthly sewage bill of $1,800 for its building in Harrisville, borough council took action to correct billing rates for businesses.

April Anschutz, council president, said the system for calculating sewage rates for businesses was particularly outdated. She said the new rates were determined based on average use.

Anschutz said SRU's building was receiving large monthly bills, which prompted a review of the rates for businesses.

“The university was paying an astronomical rate,” she said. “So, we asked EADS (Group, the borough's engineering firm) to see if they were being billed correctly.”

The borough contacted businesses to gather information about any machines or processes that used larger amounts of water — for example, how many dishwashing machines were in restaurants or how many bays there were at a car wash.

The businesses' rates were then re-evaluated based on the state Department of Environmental Protection's Chapter 73. The DEP's standards evaluate usage based on a measurement of Equivalent Dwelling Unit, also known as EDU, which equals about 400 gallons per day.

Anschutz said these values would differ between a retail store and a restaurant or a car wash.

Anschutz read a list of businesses that would see increases in their bills, with some seeing a hike of about $50 — and at least one seeing an increase of more than $400. SRU's bill was adjusted to about $290.

Anschutz said it also found answers for the university.

“They were paying what the school was paying when the elementary school was in effect,” Anschutz said.

She said the rate had slipped back by default, despite the university having far fewer students, around 100.

Anschutz said the rates determined this year would be locked, and the borough has not made plans for re-evaluation of EDUs at this time.

Anschutz said many owners she spoke to about the rates appeared to understand the need for the changes, and the owners will have the option to install their own meters for more accurate readings.

“Businesses could opt to install their own meter, but it would be at their expense,” Anschutz said.

Residents will also see a rise in their monthly sewage bills starting in 2019.

Council voted Monday on an increase of $3 to its monthly rate for 2019.

That rate may rise another $2 in 2020 with a vote expected to be sometime in 2019, according to Anschutz.

Charles Cline, council member, said the increases stem from the borough being tied into the Grove City sewage system, which has made some upgrades.

“Since we're tied into Grove City, each municipality is designated a portion,” Cline said. “We have no choice. They tell us what our portion is based on usage or flow.”