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Staff explores utility bill‑assistance model and plans to reduce inflow and infiltration
Summary
Staff outlined plans to study a customer bill assistance program modeled on a third‑party administered donation program and described steps to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I), including smoke testing, flow meters and possible customer billing adjustments for non‑system rainwater.
Committee members discussed two related customer‑facing topics: (1) a potential charity/aid program to assist customers with utility bills and (2) measures to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I) that drive non‑revenue sewer flows.
On customer aid, staff said they are drafting a proposal for a donation/escrow model that could allow customers to round up bills or contribute directly to an escrowed assistance fund. The presentation described the Springfield “Project Share” model, in which donors give on the bill and a third‑party nonprofit administers eligibility and disbursements (staff cited VOCAC/OCAC as examples of third‑party administrators in that region). Staff emphasized the importance of third‑party administration to avoid perceptions of favoritism; one member said a neutral third party removes the risk of perceived or real abuse.
Staff said key design questions remain — whether to use means testing, who administers the fund, and how eligibility is determined — and that staff will bring a fuller proposal after investigating third‑party options and legal/accounting logistics.
On I&I, staff reviewed previous smoke testing that identified downspouts, sump pumps and direct connections that increase sewer flows during rain events. Staff said non‑revenue sewer flows can be significant: on certain high‑rain days staff estimated about 400,000 gallons of non‑revenue flow (staff framed that as a measurable but variable amount). Staff said options under study include targeted flow meters (staff referenced a roughly $180,000 figure for a flow‑metering proposal under consideration), incentive programs to disconnect downspouts, and installing “float meters” to measure and bill correctly where appropriate.
Staff said reducing I&I would both lower sewer treatment costs and improve revenue per gallon by aligning sewer charges more closely with indoor water use. They indicated they will return with specific proposals — possible pilot flow‑meter installations and an administrative plan for any donation program — at a future meeting.
