The City of Morden has stream-lined its sewer and water billing process to improve efficiency.

Under the previous regimen, usage fees were applied into the future and excessive charges were rebated.

"We're making changes to how we administer the collection of the billing, making it simpler," said city manager John Scarce.

Now, after a vote by the Morden City Council last month, people will only be charged on what they've used in the previous quarter--no more estimates on usage.

A lot of time was spent doing adjustments to bills where a house or apartment changed ownership part way through the billing cycle; it was a counter-intuitive system racked with inefficiencies.

"Now we bill for the service and the consumption in the previous quarter," said Scarce.

The change is especially welcome to landlords and developers since there's far more turnover in an apartment than a single family home.

"It was a difficult thing for a landlord to figure out," said developer and City Councilwoman, Heather Francis of Francis Family Homes.

"The changes will simplify things so the service and the usage fees will all be applicable at the same time."

City Council had been looking to rectify inefficiencies in the administrative system which created headaches.

"This will be a good change for everyone," said Francis.