City Home Rules

Sewer deduct meter rules in Bettendorf, IA

Iowa · Last checked November 2026

Sewer credit program

Bettendorf's Sewer Credit Program adjusts the account based on a deduct meter reading, minus a $100 annual fee. Credits go to future bills.

Key facts

Fee
$100 a year, taken from the credit.
Payout
Credits on future bills; refunds only at move-out.

Is a deduct meter worth it?

It depends on how much you water and your sewer rate. Run the savings calculator with your summer usage.

Need a licensed plumber in Bettendorf?

Get quotes from independent local pros who do this work. Free, no obligation.

What do you need?

How it works

Sewer charges are usually based on how much water passes through your water meter, even though lawn and pool water never reaches the sewer. Some utilities let you install a second meter, called a deduct or irrigation meter, so that outdoor water is not billed as sewer. Others already solve it by basing summer sewer charges on winter water use, so no meter is needed.

  1. Check your bill: if sewer is based on a winter average, you already avoid most summer sewer charges.
  2. If not, ask the utility whether it allows a deduct or irrigation meter and what it charges.
  3. Hire a licensed plumber and pull the permit. Many utilities also require a backflow preventer.
  4. Credits usually start only after the utility inspects and registers the meter, never retroactively.

What it costs

Installation by a licensed plumber often runs several hundred to over a thousand dollars, plus any utility fees. Use the calculator below to see how fast it pays back.

More in Iowa and nearby

Sources

Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.