Resident Kathy Casey’s observation about how residential swimming pools are filled and the impact to her rising water bill stirred a debate about water usage, cost and responsibility at the Surf City Borough Council meeting last week.

“I think if you look, historically, since all the pools have been put in, our bills have increased considerably,” Casey told the council during a lengthy discussion on the matter Jan. 2. “I know the houses in our neighborhood have been using the hoses.”