Brighton considering pool utility changes

The city of Brighton may soon allow pool owners to apply for sewage utility discounts with photos instead of in-person appointments.

Mayor Melvin Rich said the town generally linked sewer bills to water usage but made an exception for pools draining into the ground.

“The sewage cost is tied in with our water usage,” he said. “But if you fill a pool, that water never goes down the sewage. With aboveground pools, they’re drained out into the yard afterward.”

Rich said the council discussed allowing residents to submit photos of their water meters before and after filling their pools but did not reach a final decision at their regular meeting Tuesday night.

“The past practice has been to call City Hall, the city goes and reads the meter, then the resident fills the pool, then they read the meter, and that way we know how much to discount.” Rich said. “Sometimes the homeowner has read it, taken pictures of it and sent those in. There was just a discussion of how that’s going to work.”