Water Utility Offers To Review Meter SizesRepresentatives of Indiana American Water announced they will review small commercial customer accounts to determine if it would be appropriate to downsize the water meter to meet the business’s needs.
No cost to the customer is associated with this service.
The offer comes after Warsaw City Council passed a new rate hike for sewer customers.
The hike is accompanied by a new rate structure, which relies in part on the size of the customer’s water meter. Customers with larger meters can expect to pay more in many cases.
During council debate, more than one representative of the city suggested small business customers check with the water utility to determine if their meter size is the best choice.
“If requested, Indiana American Water will review small commercial customer accounts to determine the current water usage. If appropriate, they will downsize the water meter appropriately to meet the business’s needs. No cost to the customer is associated with this service,” the utility said in a news release issued Thursday.
No plumbing work will be required within the building to support the installation of a smaller water meter. A five-eighths-inch water meter is the minimum size available and can be identified easily on your water bill, the utility company said.
A smaller water meter will reduce the amount of water that can flow through the building. Water pressure may also be impacted in the building by reducing the size of the water meter.
It is important that an Indiana American Water representative visit each location to ensure that water usage matches the meter size, prior to reducing the meter, the utility said.
The base charge for wastewater billing is calculated from the water meter size. A smaller water meter will reduce the base charge to the customer, thus, reducing their overall wastewater bill.
The council earlier this month approved a wastewater rate increase to support the necessary expansion of the wastewater treatment plant.
The rate increase will begin in February for January’s wastewater usage, the news release said.
Under the new rate structure, small businesses are expected to see some of the biggest rate hikes.
Small business customers interested in a review of water usage should call Indiana American Water at 574-267-6232 to schedule a visit.
