City of Lake Jackson staff presented a resident request to allow separate residential irrigation water accounts and meters. Council and staff discussed technical, financial and policy implications, including the city's existing sewer billing practice that uses water consumption as the proxy for sewer usage and a 15,000-gallon sewer cap.

Staff said the city has historically provided separate meters for commercial users but not residential irrigation because of costs and administrative complexity. The tap fee for a new meter was cited as approximately $1,200 and the meter cost about $150; the resident identified in staff analysis uses about 40,000 gallons in summer months and staff estimated a payback period for that homeowner of roughly 15 to 18 months under current rates. Staff also noted PEG-like funding restrictions are not relevant here; the issue is billing and rate structure.

Council discussed financial impacts: because the city uses water meter readings to calculate sewer charges (rather than metering sewer separately), a widespread shift to separate irrigation meters could reduce sewer revenue collected through water-based billing. Staff and councilors discussed options including allowing residential irrigation meters only in limited cases, moving to a winter-average sewer billing method, or adjusting sewer rates to compensate. Staff said Brazoria County and some other cities allow separate irrigation meters and that Laredo, for example, charges actual sewer volumes without a cap.

Council did not adopt an ordinance or take final action. Instead, staff will ask the city's rate consultant and the wastewater master-planning team to analyze impacts, evaluate the cost of a winter-average approach, and include recommendations in the pending water/wastewater master plan workshop and future rate discussions. Council members said they would revisit the matter after the workshop and consultant recommendations.