FAYETTEVILLE — Homes using city sewer and rural water might end up paying a flat fee instead of what they used because a state law prevents disclosing utility information.
The Washington Water Authority recently denied Fayetteville’s request for customer data use the city used to calculate sewer bills, said Josh Moore, general manager of the Washington Water Authority.
The change affects about 18 homes using authority water and city sewer, said Tim Nyander, city utilities director. The city hasn’t yet determined how to proceed in billing those homes, he said.
Options include using a flat billing rate based on the average use, getting customers to agree to disclose the information, installing city meters or having the water authority do the city’s billing, water officials said.
Arkansas Act 186 amended the state’s Freedom of Information Act to prevent disclosure of how much water a home uses, according to the law. The legislation was passed in February 2015.
Former Washington County Attorney Steve Zega notified the water authority about the change in 2015, and a new policy was passed in March, Moore said.
The authority cannot release users’ personal information, which includes use data, Moore said.
No other city is affected, Moore said.
Tontitown, part of which the water authority serves, decided several years ago to put its own meters on residents served by both entities, said James Clark, city public works director. Tontitown didn’t want to rely on the water authority, Clark said. The city has fewer than 10 meters to solve the problem, he said.
“I just think it was the easiest thing for Tontitown to do,” Clark said.
The legislation was meant to “[p]rotect the privacy of Arkansas citizens,” according to the act.
Fayetteville isn’t the only entity affected by the change. The authority no longer can disclose how much water a company, business or home uses, Moore said. At least one property owner has called Moore upset she couldn’t get data for a rental home she owns, he said.
“I don’t want to compromise our customers’ rights,” Moore said. “We’ll do whatever’s legal.”
Scarlet Sims can be reached by email at ssims@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAScarlets.