Vandalia residents report steep water bills; city points to meter replacements and infrastructure costs
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Summary
Multiple residents told the Vandalia council on Sept. 15 they received unusually high water bills. City staff said some bills reflect catch-up periods after estimated readings, new meters that read higher, and rising costs to replace aging water and sewer infrastructure; staff offered follow-up inspections and resources.
Several Vandalia residents told the City Council on Sept. 15 that their monthly water bills had spiked in recent months, sometimes to several hundred dollars. City staff urged affected residents to contact the water department so staff can inspect meters, and said the city is publishing additional information about utility fees and planned infrastructure work.
Ashley Wright, who gave an address of 1098 West Alkaline Springs Road, said she had received bills “for $300 a month” over the last two months and had seen “people that have had as much as $700 for 1 month.” Cheyenne Store, a resident who said she had the new meter installed recently, told the council her bill rose from typical amounts in the $60–$80 range to $677.88 this month. Store said the Ion Water app showed a one-day usage of about 2,500 gallons, which she said was inconsistent with her household’s activity.
City staff and council members explained several possible causes for unusually high bills. Some bills in recent months were based on estimated readings and created a subsequent catch-up when actual reads were recorded, staff said. City Manager Althouse said the city has been replacing older water meters because older meters can under-report usage; newer meters may register higher, more accurate usage. He also said the city has increased rates to fund necessary water and sewer infrastructure work and to meet regulatory requirements, and that the city will publish more detailed fee and project information in an upcoming community newsletter and the city magazine.
“If we do [delay improvements], then we have unsafe drinking water for the public,” Althouse said, explaining why the city is investing in aging mains and a wastewater treatment plant. He said city staff will follow up with residents who provide billing records so staff can investigate possible leaks, meter failures or billing errors.
Several residents said they had contacted the water department already; staff asked residents with large bills to bring recent statements so staff can review billing history. The council and staff encouraged residents to use the Ion Water app where available to check real-time meter readings and to contact the water department for on-site inspections.
City Manager Althouse said the municipal newsletter and the final fall publication of the city magazine will include expanded explanations of what the utility fees pay for and the schedule for upcoming capital projects. Staff offered to connect residents who spoke at the meeting with water-department personnel after the meeting to investigate individual accounts.
