Days Of Flat Water Fees Ending In Baker

BAKER, La. (AP) — The days of $14-a-month water are ending for residents of Baker. Mayor Harold Rideau tells The Advocate that a $3.9 million project to install high-tech water meters at all residences on the Baker water system is about 96 percent complete. He says the first meter-based residential bills are still a few months away. Rideau says Utility Billing Director Alice Sanders wants to be sure the billing software works correctly. Rideau says recent work revealed that some owners kept fresh water flowing through their swimming pools 24 hours a day, to avoid buying chemicals to keep them clean. Baker got $4.7 million in stimulus money for the project. It also includes back-flow preventers at each meter to stop contaminants from being siphoned into the water system.