CHOCOWINITY — The Town of Chocowinity is now allowing all residents with water hookup access to have irrigation meters installed, doing away with sewer fees for water usage outside the home.

Tuesday, at its July meeting, the Chocowinity Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to allow all residents served by the town’s public works department to request irrigation meter hookups. Before the new policy, residents using water for outside applications such as irrigation of lawns and gardens, washing cars or filling pools had to do so through their regular water hookup, which charged sewer fees.

“It will just give them some relief on the sewer (fees) because before anything that goes through their water meters, they’re charged sewer because we had no way of knowing whether it was for irrigation or in the house,” said Chocowinity Mayor Jimmy Mobley. “Sewer rates are based on water going through the meter.”

Mobley said, however, Cypress Landing residents are not yet eligible because the Chocowinity community is part of a homeowners’ association, according to Mobley. The town pitched the offer to the association representing Cypress Landing and has yet to hear back about whether they will allow their residents to capitalize on the town’s offer, according to Mobley. As of now, the association does not allow irrigation meters. The only way the meters will be allowed is if two-thirds of the association’s members vote to allow them, Mobley said.

Before the new policy, residents living outside the town limits only had two options for water use outside the home — use of a well or using water through their standard water meter, according to Kevin Brickhouse, director of Public Works for the Town of Chocowinity.

Brickhouse said the estimated cost of installing an irrigation meter is in the range of $1,200-$1,300, depending on state standards and whether any given customer needs the system to cross a highway or road, which would increase the cost, Brickhouse said.

“What we’re doing is allowing for another water meter to be stuck on their property to be designated for outside things,” Brickhouse said. “It lowers down sewer bills tremendously. Most times, people wouldn’t do this unless they’re heavy users on watering and don’t like iron rust from wells.”

Prior to the new policy, the town had a verbal ordinance against allowing irrigation meters outside the town due to an effort to conserve water, but now, due to the implementation of several water plants, the policy has changed, Brickhouse said.

“Every person in our water system can now have irrigation meters,” Brickhouse said.

To request installation of an irrigation meter, call the Chocowinity Town Hall at 252-946-6568.