Girard residents may be able to purchase second meter for outdoor use

Girard residents may soon have the opportunity to purchase a second water meter that would include a lower rate

girard

Residents may soon have the opportunity to purchase a second water meter that would include a lower rate.

Joe Shelby, councilman at large and chairman of the building and grounds committee, introduced legislation Monday that would allow water customers to use outdoor meters for the “exclusive purpose of lawn, garden, and landscape irrigation” without paying additional sewer rates.

Shelby said water customers currently pay a sewer rate for all water use, which comprises roughly 40 percent of an average water bill.

According to the proposed ordinance, Girard customers would have to pay the city’s water department $276 for the installation of a second meter. Shelby said depending on how much outdoor water is used, it would be a worthwhile investment for some customers.

“An individual could make up the cost in a year buy purchasing a second meter,” said Shelby.

Lou Adovasio, councilman at large and chairman of the utilities commission, said Shelby’s ordinance makes sense.

“Warm weather is nearing and a lot of people are going to be outside using a lot of water, and it would be nice for them to get an accurate reading on their usage,” said Adovasio, who championed an ordinance to install new meters throughout the city.