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Bicknell reviews culinary-water ordinance: leak relief, billing caps and connection rules debated
Summary
Councilors reviewed a draft culinary-water ordinance that would formalize average-based leak adjustments, set caps for emergency leak relief, and clarify rules for unused water connections. Members asked staff to revise leak-adjustment language, consider caps (examples discussed included half-bill relief and maximums around $500), and lengthen repair-notification windows for residents.
Bicknell councilors reviewed proposed updates to the town's culinary-water ordinance and fee schedule during the May 29 work meeting, focusing on how to handle unusually large bills caused by leaks, and how to treat unused water connections.
Staff described a common approach used elsewhere: compute a customer's typical consumption as a 12-month average and use that baseline to measure the excess caused by a leak. Several councilors said the town should include a leak-adjustment policy so residents are not bankrupted by a single, sudden problem; one example cited by a councilor was a resident who received about a $900 bill after a leak was discovered.
Options discussed included reducing an eligible leak bill by half, or applying a cap (councilors discussed figures such as $500 or $1,000 as potential maximum relief). Members also debated whether the repair-notification window for residents should be seven days or 14 days to allow time to schedule a plumber. Staff agreed to draft revised language that would (1) preserve protections for town systems, (2) allow an administrative leak-adjustment for documented repairs, and (3) include a maximum cap to limit the town's exposure.
Councilors also discussed rules for unused water connections and how long a buyer has to use a purchased connection before it is forfeited; suggestions in the meeting ranged from 90 days to a year. Staff said they would incorporate a clear use-it-or-lose-it timeframe and propose a maximum cap for leak relief in the next draft.
