This bill is calculated based on your water consumption as reported by AQUA PA. If your bill does not match your AQUA water consumption, please contact the Finance department at (610) 645-4767.

Yes. The prior year's consumption creates the current year's bill. However, if you believe your water consumption will be significantly lower than the prior owner, you may be eligible for the New Homeowner's Credit.  To qualify, you must pay the current bill as it was issued and submit the required documents when you have been in the home for 12 months. If there is a difference between your usage and the prior owner's usage, the Township will issue a refund check to you.

The Township of Lower Merion offers a one-time only sanitary sewer rent credit to new homeowners who occupy the property.  The new homeowner’s credit does not apply to rental or commercial properties.
Sanitary Sewer Rent is based on water usage.  If your yearly water usage proves to be less than the prior owner’s yearly usage, the Township will refund the difference.   To qualify for this credit, you must pay the current sanitary sewer rent bill and then submit the following items:
 
1. A letter requesting the New Homeowner’s credit.

2. A copy of the settlement page that shows whether or not you received sewer rent credit.

3. Twelve consecutive (one year) water readings from Aqua Pennsylvania Company.  Please note that the last reading provided must be an actual reading.

4. Proof of payment of the sanitary sewer rent bill you’re requesting credit against.

Email all of the above to sewer@lowermerion.org

The box labeled Credit shows the gallonage that has been subtracted from your bill. That amount is subtracted from your Total usage, the result of which is the Net amount. 

After you register, you will receive a postcard around January. The card that you receive in the mail will have your Special Meter’s location, brand name, and serial number indicated. Read the rolling dials on that meter, and write them on the card or enter them into the online form. Be careful to read the Special Meter and not the main House Meter.

The main House Meter has a Black plastic piece on the DIAL and a wire that runs outside.  This is not the Special Meter, do not report that reading.  This is the main water meter for the entire house.  The Special Meter will not have the black plastic piece on the dial and it will not have a wire.

If you are having trouble reading your Special Meter, please call the Public Works Office at 610-645-6150.

If you forget to submit a reading for 1-2 years you will be allowed to submit a reading and get up to a 2-year credit. However, your credit cannot be more than your current year’s usage, and you will still be required to pay at least the minimum bill (20.0 k/gal). To ensure that you receive full credit, submit a reading every year prior to the deadline specified on the postcard you receive.

If it has been more than 3 years since you submitted a reading, you will be removed from the system and will need to re-register with the current meter reading. That reading will be treated as an initial reading and you will not get credit for the years that you did not report readings.  

Because water consumption varies by home, the best way to determine whether a Special Meter would be a good choice for you is to look at your quarterly water usage. If you see a significant spike in usage in the 3^rd quarter, and somewhat elevated usage in Q4, chances are some of that water is being used for filling a pool and/or watering the landscaping in the summer months.

To calculate your potential savings, use Q1 and Q2 as your baseline and calculate the average of those 2 numbers. Then, normalize your usage across all 4 quarters to see how much water is potentially unsewered.

Example 1: Spike in Q3, slight elevation in Q4.

Q1 & Q2 average 15.5 k/gal. Estimated unsewered consumption 32.3 k/gal in Q3 (47.8 - 32.2 = 15.5) and 10.7 k/gal in Q4 (26.2 – 10.7 = 15.5). Total estimated unsewered usage 43 k/gal. 43 x 4.51

In this example, the bill prior to the installation of a Special Meter would be the Total k/gallonage multiplied by the Rate, 105.1 x $4.51 = $474.00. With a Special Meter, assuming a meter reading of 43 k/gal, the unsewered amount would be subtracted from the bill as follows. 105.1 - 43 = 62.1 x 4.51 = $280.07. This would be a savings of $193.93. Depending on the cost of the meter and installation, this meter would likely pay for itself in just a couple of years.

Example 2: stable usage, no significant savings

In this example, the water consumption is stable across all 4 quarters. This resident likely does not do a significant amount of exterior watering or have a pool. They would not realize any savings by installing a Special Meter. 

Once you have the meter installed, please complete this form. If you prefer to print and mail the form, you may do so by printing this form.  You must register your meter and report an annual reading to receive credit for the unsewered water. At the beginning of next year, a Special Meter Reading card will be mailed to you.  You will return the card with a current reading and the usage will be deducted from the next sanitary sewer rent bill.

No, we cannot issue a retroactive credit without a Special Meter reading. Per the Township Code §126-12, and Ord. No. 1842, “the quantity of water so used and not discharged into the Township sewers must be measured by a device or devices approved by the Director of Public Works and installed without cost to the Township.”

If your question is related to payment of the bill, call the Township Treasurer's Office at 610-645-6181.

If your question is related to the water consumption at your home, contact AQUA PA. 

If your question is about the sewer itself (permits, connections, etc.), contact the Sanitary Sewer Division of Public Works. 

For other questions related to the sewer bill, contact sewer@lowermerion.org or call 610-645-4767.