1.  Rules.  The department shall establish fee formulas by rules adopted in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. The department must consult with and consider the advice of the commission in preparing the rules. Proposed rules issued by the department under this section must include the fee formulas and collection and transfer schedules developed by the commission. Fee formulas adopted under this section must be equitable. Fees may be based on, but are not limited to, the population served, service connections, volume of water pumped or available seats, campsites, rooms or lots, and may include fixed or graduated fee formulas or combinations of the fee formulas. The base fee may be no more than $75 per year per public water system.  

2.  Collection and disposition of fees.  Fees adopted under this section cover the period beginning July 1, 1993 and must be collected by each public water system in monthly, quarterly or annual increments. Fees collected by public water systems under this section are state fees. The department shall establish schedules for the collection and transfer of fees to the State with the advice of the commission.  

3.  Suspension and reinstatement of fees.  Fees imposed under this section are suspended on the first day of the calendar quarter following any calendar quarter in which primacy is withdrawn by the Federal Government. Fees suspended under this subsection may be reinstated on the first day of the calendar quarter following the quarter in which the State regains primacy.