Lawn water meters available to Fairfield residents

Aug. 1, 2023 11:57 am

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield residents with gardens or backyard pools should know they could be saving money on their water bill with a special lawn water meter.

Fairfield Administrative Assistant and Utility Clerk Shelby Ford said staff at city hall have noticed an uptick this year in residents requesting an adjustment to their utility bill after using an extensive amount of water, often because they filled a pool or because they had a water leak.

Fairfield calculates a resident’s water bill by looking at its water usage, and then figuring an equal amount of usage for sewer since that water has to go down a drain. The sewer portion of a resident’s bill is larger because sewage is more expensive to treat, Ford said. This is what prompts some residents to request a reduction in their bill if they can prove their water did not go down a drain because they used it for a garden or a pool, but to get a reduction they must petition the city’s water and sewer committee. The committee then makes a recommendation to the full city council about whether to refund a resident’s sewer charges if they can prove the water didn’t go down a drain.

Residents with gardens or pools would not need to go through this process of asking the water and sewer committee for an adjustment if they had a separate lawn water meter, which does not incur sewer charges. Ford said the city has offered these special meters for years, but she and the other city staff wondered if residents did not know this was an option to avoid sewer charges.

To get a special lawn water meter, call Fairfield City Hall at 641-472-6193. Ford said residents should not attempt to install the lawn water meter on their own, and instead should call a plumber. The plumber will assess what meter is needed depending on the size of the water pipe. Ford said the price of lawn water meters varies with the size, but most are around $300.

Oftentimes, a plumber will need to dig around the house. Ford said residents can check with city hall about a list of plumbers who are bonded and insured, which is necessary if the plumber is digging in the city’s right of way.

“This is not a DIY project,” Ford said. “I know that quite a few people are taking advantage of these meters. Just call city hall if you want to inquire about them.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at [email protected]