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Wellington tests equal-payment water billing and discusses outreach, xeriscaping resources
Summary
Town staff said a pilot equal-payment program to average water bills over the year is about to go live; staff recommended public outreach using newsletters, QR codes and existing water-efficiency programs (irrigation audits, garden-in-a-box, lawn-removal rebate) to help residents manage increases in summertime bills.
Town staff told the Finance Advisory Board that a pilot program to offer an equal-payment option for water customers is about to go live. The staff member leading the update said the pilot "has gone well" during testing and that language to start the process was submitted the day of the meeting.
Under the planned program customers would pay an averaged monthly amount based on annual usage rather than higher seasonal bills. A staff speaker described the pilot as an "average" payment option meant to smooth high summertime water charges; staff said customers remain responsible for total annual water usage but would have steadier monthly bills.
Board members and staff discussed outreach and conservation efforts to accompany the billing changes. Suggestions included QR-coded signs in parks and at public facilities linking to water-efficiency resources, inclusion of information in the monthly "Discover Wellington" newsletter and social media posts, and targeted messages encouraging irrigation audits and xeriscaping. Staff noted existing programs on the town website such as an irrigation-audit program, a "garden in a box" resource, a showerhead exchange and a possible lawn-removal rebate.
Members also suggested the town provide clear notices when bills change and to consider incentives or rebates for residents who adopt water-efficient landscaping; staff said they would review available programs and consider signage and social-media outreach to publicize the equal-payment option when it launches.
No formal program approval or fee change was recorded at the meeting: staff reported the pilot's implementation steps have begun and that a go-live timeline and outreach plan would be provided once those details are finalized.
