Council debates allowing separate residential irrigation meters; asks staff to consult rate study

Lake Jackson City Council members reviewed whether to allow separate residential irrigation meters at their March 11 meeting and directed staff to follow up with the city’s rate consultant rather than take immediate action.

City staff explained the ordinance change under discussion would allow homeowners to install a separate irrigation meter, similar to provisions already available to commercial customers. Staff said the typical water tap (connection) fee for a separate meter would be roughly $1,200 and the meter cost about $150; homeowners would also pay for the plumbing connection. The staff presentation used an example of a heavy user who consumes about 40,000 gallons a month in summer and about 4,000 gallons in winter; staff said an irrigation meter in that example could yield a payback to the customer in about 15 to 18 months because sewer charges are based on billed water up to the city’s 15,000-gallon sewer cap.

City staff noted three practical issues:

- The city’s sewer billing uses a volumetric proxy based on water use; removing irrigation from the billed water pool reduces sewer revenues that fund fixed sewer system costs. If many customers switched to separate irrigation meters, rates for other customers would likely need to adjust to maintain sewer system revenue requirements. - The city historically allowed separate meters for commercial and multi-family properties but not for single-family residential customers; Brazoria County and some peer cities do permit residential irrigation meters. - Installing separate meters requires an up-front tap fee and meter purchase, and the customer would pay for the physical hookup.

Council direction and next steps: Rather than adopt an ordinance at this meeting, council asked staff to ask the city’s rate consultant and the utilities master-plan team to evaluate options, including a winter-average approach and the fiscal impacts of removing some water from sewer billing. Staff and the consultant will report back at a future workshop or council meeting with recommended drafting options, potential rate adjustments, and estimated work effort and costs.