A new city program could benefit the environment and some citizens wallets.
Through the voluntary water metering program, the City will cover the cost of 100 meters and plumbing permits, while interested residents cover the installation and pipefitting fees.
“It was one of the recommendations that came out of the 2005 Water Conservation Plan,” says Director of Public Works, Gina Layte Liston. “So we had a few homes, less than 100, that were on volunteer water meters, but the Mayor brought forward a new motion in the fall, and that’s where a lot of this came from.”
The 2006 incarnation received a lot of positive feedback, and she’s hoping to see more of the same.
“They see a decrease in the amount of water they actually use. In a lot of cases, this occurs because they have the ability to track the water usage on a meter in their home. They can see what they’re consuming on a day to day basis.”
It saves the City money too.
Because all potable water comes from aquifers, less water being pumped cuts down on energy needed to extract and treat the water.
The program is targeted at single-family residential customers on a fixed payment schedule.