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sanitary sewer credit policy

Compare local sewer credit rules for leak-related bills and update options.

Whether staff returns with a specific plan for high-usage alerts, meter upgrades, and any auto-pay safeguards residents can opt into.

Typically discussed at Public Utilities Committee. Check back when the next agenda is published.

Two Rivers is sticking with its current sewer leak credit rules, including no credit when leaked water went down a floor drain. The real push right now is earlier warning—newer meters and better high-usage alerts—so residents find leaks before the bill explodes, especially if they’re on auto-pay.

  1. The committee discussed that monthly meter reads can allow internal leaks to run for weeks before a usage spike is detected, and that reaching property owners can take multiple attempts, sometimes pushing notification beyond 30 days.

    Public Utilities Committee
  2. The committee discussed moving to newer meter technology for more frequent usage data and possibly replacing meters faster than the current 20-year cycle, and directed staff to investigate options and report back.

    Public Utilities Committee
  3. The committee reiterated that Public Service Commission rules mean the city cannot credit water charges, and that the existing sewer-credit policy would remain unchanged.

    Public Utilities Committee
  4. The committee described a sewer-credit policy limit: no sewer credit if leaked water went into a floor drain because it still must be treated.

    Public Utilities Committee
  5. Council reviewed how Two Rivers handles sanitary sewer-bill credits when residents have unexpected leaks, including the tradeoff between customer fairness and protecting the utility’s finances.

    City Council Work Session
  6. During the discussion, Council generally supported keeping the current sanitary sewer credit policy.

    City Council Work Session
  7. Council discussed that residents may face large bills before realizing their usage has spiked due to a leak.

    City Council Work Session
  8. Council asked staff to explore improved customer notifications for high usage, clearer bill messaging about the policy, and safeguards for residents on auto-pay to reduce the risk of large automatic withdrawals after a surprise leak.

    City Council Work Session