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Tamworth Sewer Commission to cover cost of deduct meters; 11 of 21 installations scheduled
Summary
At a Jan. 13 special meeting the Tamworth Sewer Commission agreed to pay for and install "deduct" meters for customers whose supplied water does not enter the septic system (examples: TCNA office and a distillery). Commissioners reported 11 of 21 installations are scheduled and plan follow-up outreach.
Hillary Behr, chair of the Tamworth Sewer Commission, called a special meeting Jan. 13 to address installation and costs for so-called "deduct" meters that record water supplied by Lakes Region Water but not discharged into local septic systems.
The commission reviewed specific sites that may require deduct meters, including the TCNA office — which taps LRW at the town office but has its own septic system — and a local distillery whose business practice includes bottling and diverting some wastewater to a separate holding tank. Paul Priestman reported that, according to a town maintenance employee, the TCNA office offers easy meter access in a first-floor utility room and that a deduct meter will be installed. Commissioners also recalled that the distillery may already have some internal metering or plumbing separate from the sewer system and agreed to install a deduct meter there as well.
Why it matters: Deduct meters ensure sewer charges reflect only the volume entering the sewer or septic systems, rather than all water supplied by LRW. Commissioners said installing these meters protects customers and preserves accuracy in billing and system accounting.
The commission agreed that the Tamworth Sewer Commission will bear the cost of the deduct meters and their installation for the identified customers. For new buildings, commissioners said Lakes Region Water will supply meters as previously pledged but installation costs will be the responsibility of the customer.
Behr reported that 11 of 21 required installations have already been scheduled. She said that on or about Jan. 19 she will request a list of customers who have not yet set up an installation appointment; commissioners will divide that list among themselves and contact those customers to encourage scheduling. No public input was recorded at the meeting, and the transcript does not show a roll-call vote on the expense decision.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:14 p.m. by Behr. The commission intends to proceed with installations and outreach described at the special meeting.
