Marion citizens petition advocates for outdoor water meters

MARION — For Marion resident and Planning Board Chair Andrew Daniel, the creation of his citizens petition to advocate for the option of a secondary outdoor water meter comes from personal experience as a homeowner burdened by sewer rates.

“I was doing some work around my house, putting in new grass and watering three times a day and thinking, ‘This is costing me a fortune,’” said Daniel.

With approximately 120 signatures on the petition certified, residents will vote on the citizens petition at Fall Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 24 to potentially allow the option for a second outdoor water meter on residential properties.

The town of Marion currently has a single meter water system, in which residents are charged sewer fees for outdoor water usage even though outdoor water is not transferred to the sewage treatment facility. Common residential outdoor water uses include irrigation for watering plants and lawns.

“Whatever water comes in, you’re being charged a sewer fee as well. If you’re watering your grass or your garden or washing your boat or your car, you’re getting hit with a sewer fee — even though the water is not going to the sewage treatment plant,” explained Daniel.

According to Daniel, residents “will basically get two water bills” if they were to implement a second outdoor water meter. With the outdoor water meter bill, residents would not be charged for additional sewer fees. If the petition were to pass, the outdoor meter would be optional and residents would not be required to install one on their property.

Daniel said that neighboring towns, including Fairhaven and Mattapoisett, allow the use of a secondary outdoor water meter.

“They all do it slightly differently, but for the main purpose is that it’s not fair or right to be charging sewer for water that doesn’t go into the sewer,” said Daniel.

If the petition is approved, residents would be responsible for rearranging their outdoor plumbing to accommodate the second meter.

“The way we have the petition written right now is at the homeowner’s expense — they’re going to have to pay for a plumber to come, replumb their outside water sources and then the town will put in a second meter and you’ll basically get two water bills,” said Daniel.

He emphasized that Marion has “extremely expensive sewer rates” and that he spoke with many residents who experienced similar struggles with outdoor water use and supported the petition. It took only about six hours to garner around 120 signatures in support of the petition, according to Daniel.

“I talked to people and I found that a lot of people had basically stopped using their outside water. They had nice lawns, but they had to let them go. Couldn’t have the garden anymore because they just couldn’t afford the sewer bill and it’s not right,” said Daniel.

He adds, “People shouldn’t have to be financially well off or wealthy to be able to grow their own vegetables. It seems like such a simple thing.”

Some town officials expressed concern with the potential secondary meter option, stating that the implementation of secondary meters may result in increased sewer rates for all. If sewer revenue were to decrease due to the implementation of outdoor meters, officials speculate that this loss in revenue might have to be made up by increasing rates overall.

“Any kind of a loss of revenue is scary because that money has to be up somewhere, but I never want to not do the right or moral thing because I’m worried about the costs financially,” said Daniel.