Irrigation Water Meters

Planning on watering your lawn with an inground irrigation system or through an outside spigot?  Having a permanent irrigation water meter might be right for you.  

Your first step to get a second water meter that measures just outside water usage would be to hire a plumber to make a new meter setting.  For a new irrigation water meter, the plumber will want to make a setting the same size as the house water meter, a setting for a ¾ inch meter. In West Des Moines we do not use deduct water meters.  You will want to let your plumber know we do not use deduct meters.  Where the water service line comes in to the house (typically in the basement near your house water meter), one service would go to the house water usage and the other meter would go only to the irrigation usage.  

With the additional irrigation water meter for an in-ground irrigation system, WDM Water Works will send you a Water Supply Connection Fee invoice for the $770. Larger irrigation meters have a much larger Water Supply Connection Fee and must first be approved by WDM Water Works.  If the irrigation meter is just for outside spigots only, the Water Supply Connection fee will be $460.  Water Works can install the meter before the invoice gets paid but not before the meter setting is completed by your plumber. The water that goes through the irrigation meter does not get charged the sewer rate.  The current sewer rate can be found here, www.wdmww.com/rateinformation.aspx  The new account does have an additional basic service charge each month, which can also be found at www.wdmww.com/rateinformation.aspx.

If you plan to water your lawn each year having a 2nd irrigation water meter may save you money, it just depends on how much you plan to water.  In-ground irrigation systems do have costs each year to you as a homeowner are responsible for, including a year test of the backflow device and annual set up and winterization of the system. 

If you have additional question or are ready for your new irrigation meter to be installed, please call WDM Customer Service at 515-222-3460.