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Commission weighs rain‑sensor performance, customer education and small incentives to curb irrigation waste
Summary
After staff reported lower use among high users and a 1.9% reported water loss for May, commissioners discussed whether rain sensors are functioning, proposed education via water bills or messaging, and floated incentives or rebates for replacing or recalibrating inoperative sensors.
Commissioners used the utilities monthly report on June 16 to launch a focused discussion on irrigation rain sensors and customer education.
Stephen, reporting monthly operations, said distribution samples passed and water loss for the month was 1.9%. He also outlined system metrics including 929 AMI portal customers and meter readability of 98.03% for 1,678 meters.
Commissioners asked whether rain sensors were functioning after a long drought and whether recent rainfall caused measurable declines in community consumption. Michelle, who had sampled the city’s 30 highest water users, described a simple analysis of consumption from September 2025 through April that appeared to show decreases among the highest users. "It does seem to indicate that high users have dropped their use," Michelle said, cautioning the sample was not a rigorous analysis and recommending the commission consider a community‑education item for a future agenda.
Suggestions from commissioners included adding a brief reminder to the water bill to "Check your sensors," exploring a small rebate for residents who show they replaced or recalibrated irrigation sensors, and offering basic sensor‑maintenance education for new residents who call about high bills.
The commission agreed to leave the topic for a future agenda item and asked staff to add an education piece for the July meeting packet.
