Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Sewer Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents ask city to stop charging sewer fees for water used to fill pools and gardens
Summary
At the May 19 City Council meeting, residents called on the council to create a way to credit sewer charges when water is used to fill pools or irrigate gardens; staff said routine credits are not yet available and installing individual meters is the preferred long-term fix.
Randy Peterson and Susan Miller told the City Council on May 19 they repeatedly pay sewer charges on water that never reaches the city system after filling backyard pools or watering gardens and urged the council to create a billing credit. The comments came during the meeting’s public‑comment period.
Peterson said he opened his pool and expected to be charged for water but not for sewer service because the water “will never see the city” sewer system. “It’s going to cost me a ton of money that I receive no service for,” he said. Miller said the same concern applies if residents water lawns or raise small gardens.
City staff answered that there is not currently a routine credit for periodic pool‑filling or garden watering. A staff member explained the council has “one‑time emergency credit” mechanisms for large, unusual events and other limited bill credits, but no program to routinely subtract sewer charges for short‑term water use that does not enter the sewer system. Staff said the city’s highest priority is reinstalling individual sewer‑use meters where feasible so residents who want precision billing can be measured directly.
A staff speaker and a technician named Jeff provided cost context: filling a large pool (about 30,000 gallons) costs roughly $315–$320 in water charges, while topping off a pool with 1,000–2,000 gallons is on the order of $20. Staff said those smaller topping‑off amounts are low relative to the cost of owning and operating a pool, but acknowledged the concern that sewer charges are assessed even when water does not flow into the sewer system.
Council members and staff discussed possible interim approaches such as applying an ‘‘average sewer’’ adjustment for months when measured sewer flow is demonstrably lower, but no formal direction or ordinance change was proposed or approved at the meeting. Mayor and staff invited the residents to follow up after the meeting so staff can assemble more information and options.
Ending: Staff said they will follow up with the residents and continue work on meter installation costs and potential billing options; no ordinance or formal credit program was adopted at the May 19 meeting.
