<< trailer Think of it this way: what if that property owner was requesting not one meter, but four new ones? A: The TRWA Sample Tariff states that a meter is to be set on the property designed to receive service and the owner of the property has to be the member of the corporation. 0000000536 00000 n It is best to work with your customers so that a reasonable solution can be found. Where is the middle ground here? The customer does not own the meter just like the customer doesnt own the electric meter or gas meter, even though they have to pay all costs for these other metering devices to be installed. Each system has to check references, call neighboring systems that use the same product or professional, and verify to the best of their ability the facts before purchasing materials or entering into a contract. <9A> <9A> <0161> 1.1 Land Use Assumptions and Projected Population The BPSUD water system operates as 4 independent pressure planes, which requires that each pressure plane be analyzed as a stand-alone system. <8E> <8E> <017D> If not then the meter accuracy is over or under by that difference since the tank is a definite volume (provided the above calculation and tank dimensions were accurate). The elimination of external parts should reduce the need for re-reads due to malfunctions. Billable flow (B 1 + B 5) 7. Q: We have several members who have second living residences at their home, but only one meter. a@0VZ F8A8!@!af^""""#o^?l2AD 4i5M=n^/#{B^m^m}5ok8M4M0P aj""# The Uniform Plumbing Code does not allow for booster pumps under this condition and TCEQ rule Section 290.44(d)(3) states that service connections that require booster pumps taking suction from the public water system lines must be equipped with automatic pressure cut-off devices so that the pumping units become inoperative at a suction pressure of less than 20 psi (thereby preventing a back siphonage condition). You also should consult your system attorney so an agreement can be developed to set out the scope of volunteer work, as well as the timeliness of these meter readings if you decide to enter into this free meter reading arrangement. end for the single-family residential customer group. 0000001086 00000 n %PDF-1.5 % G{|(> 7 The customer says there is a gate at the back of his property (more than 500 feet away). The systems and engineers said that if these old dormant tap locations wanted to be re-serviced and if upgrades were required, the present landowners where service had previously existed would have to pay for those upgrades. Section E allows for disconnection without notice when a known dangerous or hazardous condition exists for which service may remain disconnected for as long as the condition exists, including but not limited to a public health nuisance as defined in Texas Health and Safety Code Sections 341.011 or 343.011. Is this legal or what problems could this create? Some systems do require individual meters to each different apartment, condo or other type business that is all owned by one individual or company. <96> <97> <2013> <81> <81> <2022> xref U0!_bU2S'vB9{h7UM;y>F]6]>_]I;j]R_}I/l end R02 - Single Family House (larger than 5/8 " meter). This can lead to lawsuits and fights between neighbors and family members, and often the utility ends up bearing the brunt of these clashes. endstream endobj 75 0 obj<>/BaseFont/Times-Roman/FirstChar 0/LastChar 255/Subtype/Type1/ToUnicode 76 0 R/Widths[0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 340 410 500 500 840 785 185 340 340 500 560 250 340 250 290 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 290 290 565 565 565 440 925 720 670 670 725 610 555 720 720 335 390 725 615 880 720 720 560 720 665 555 605 715 715 945 725 725 610 335 275 335 475 500 330 450 500 450 500 450 340 500 500 275 275 500 275 775 500 500 500 500 340 390 285 500 500 720 500 500 450 490 200 490 550 350 500 350 340 500 450 1000 500 500 340 1000 565 340 890 350 610 350 350 340 340 445 445 350 500 1000 340 990 390 340 730 350 450 730 250 340 500 500 500 500 210 500 340 770 280 500 570 340 770 340 410 570 300 300 340 510 460 250 340 300 310 500 750 750 750 445 720 720 720 720 720 720 885 675 615 615 615 615 340 340 340 340 720 720 720 720 720 720 720 565 720 720 720 720 720 720 560 500 450 450 450 450 450 450 670 450 450 450 450 450 280 280 280 280 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 565 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500]>> endobj 76 0 obj<>stream (x[u!WMt[~}}PNwAzJg"hK#6yot|L ` hp _Gy;:D'#DU!EN4~\6]W=WM0A >4#]a4aS'\!i SM0_h~6$DQ!k5MidcY8*#SB7(3 w!Nb%#{;%mO0ooWdy_Mo{@G6p~_Cum}mPk#]zK >0'|'{vWcH)uOO^ 6$*5?_~Ujq[~V.V^-W{vj^oKV]OW -(i0r#* +IB> <9F> <9F> <0178> Next, the system needs to send a copy of that policy to the entities that appear to be in violation of that policy along with a copy of the TCEQ rule requiring accurate measuring of each customers usage. 0000002796 00000 n "!#w~[^Mt__^7ea?VU> {9Vh*A!_Q~" [w|V}.f%z[o~di_Yzbb{[Xu]\*lq& <9B> <9B> <203A> There are many different types and uses of wells. The TCEQ interprets an "active connection" as a connection that is completed or existing and able to supply drinking water from the PWS to a single-family <96> <97> <2013> Do they have to register as a business with the state or get a water commercial permit? What options do we have to address this issue? However, TCEQs 2019 guidance on determining the number of connections served by public water systems defines active connection to include any connection that has the capacity to receive water, even if there is no customer currently receiving water service there. In that case, the system may need to check the hot water heater to see if it has water in it or, as stated above, have the customer demonstrate that water in the second dwelling is from another source and not a water hose from the first house. With regard to your 1.5 inch line, please note that the TCEQ Chapter 290 Rules state that a 2 inch main line size is the minimum to be installed on any public water system. 362 0 obj Additionally, many systems didnt want to maintain extended meters and lines within the private property, because in several cases working on these lines proved too intrusive on peoples private property and roads. Service will be restored when a CSI confirms no health hazard exists, the health hazard has been removed or repaired, or the health hazard has been isolated from the corporations water system. A: This is a common question. <91> <92> <2018> Ask Larry Archives: Metering and One Meter per Residence Rules. There also is a section in the Service Application and Agreement form RUS-TX Bulletin 1780-9 (05/17) that states: All water shall be metered by meters to be furnished and installed by the Corporation. Unless a local governmental authority requires otherwise, or unless otherwise established, an ESFC is defined as 360 gallons per day for average water usage and 300 gpd for average wastewater return flow. Customers that do not report multiple connections, causing utility employees to have to investigate the matter, are usually denied these waivers. <9B> <9B> <203A> Most of the re-reads were because the brand of meters the system had installed used exterior-mounted antennas, which were susceptible to a variety of hazards, such as gophers, dogs or lawn mowers. Getting customers to understand is sometimes challenging. Section 24.89(a)(1) of the PUC's rules states that, all charges for water service shall be based on meter measurements, except where otherwise authorized by the utilitys approved tariff.. /CMapName /Helvetica-ObliqueOPBaseFont5 def A4INih9'uC0\!a;OKx[TJ2 7Kie <91> <92> <2018> Q: We have been made aware of a customer who has installed an inline booster pump on their side of the meter. Master metering is only applicable when it is a single piece of property, not two different tracts. Statewide Photo Campaign Promoting Drought Awareness Launches August 5! CONTACT 1002 Washington Ave., 3rd floor Houston, TX 77002 832.394.8888 wcrtechs@houstontx.gov 8 am to 3 pm Wastewater Capacity Reservation Letter - Wastewater You, the property owner or authorized agent, must apply for a Wastewater Capacity Reservation letter if you are: Wastewater Capacity Reservation Letter - Water <99> <99> <2122> 0000001445 00000 n The system is not responsible for securing or requiring an easement for any service line from the meter to the ultimate customers home. lmr19a9s;rw;A$PsI@mr+9pB? e. The Corporation shall require each Member to have a cutoff valve within 2 feet of the meter on the Members side of the meter for purposes of isolating the Members service pipeline and plumbing facilities from the Corporations water pressure. endbfrange endstream endobj 5 0 obj<>/Width 2550/Height 3300/BitsPerComponent 1/ColorSpace/DeviceGray/Type/XObject/Name/background_2/Subtype/Image>>stream <95> <95> <2022> /CMapType 2 def endcodespacerange :RA%_Xo($N4jKA$iH~5]_]_W_4_'MAzcbhS Gj,+ NPt%TJMvM'B!41F"#4_M}:C?o_o_Z__^_,bD-CF`s;7Qfdcq12FnfhPM4w*`Rthj7v>N2nAqNtF?ON~kEWTB}WLO'?~_Kjjv?ijpU5l%.^=8I>5jtLd%-A^XABL4"?DDDD~~/a?i{`TG{`_+IW21 ffy./HZU"L3FRCa;5.Z qa?C$;VY!v +rxO%}^F'dvwtkV~JW_k#Nq|o|!mm+DcWS62q}9jQi|:{MT'^K{Ul%kr#x~jBXDvK{!ZoI";NaZa4?AWuAR#kM4Nh0Ai#'A"""!D~" }~},Tv;R*2@YDxw4& f0OeqXYDtc/DCXt(P 4(A|;Z 0 {e9Q $b@;l0$" /CIDSystemInfo For example, the provisions of TRWAs Sample Tariff regarding non-standard service include the requirement that the corporation approve the design requirements of the applicants required facilities prior to initiation of a non-standard service contract. <20> <7E> <0020> A: The answer is yes, its not only ethical, its also both fair and necessary. The sample tariff allows the system to estimate a bill and notify the member of the estimate if meter access is hindered or denied. <9C> <9C> <0153> For years, many rural and municipal systems have opted to install master meters for rental properties such as multiple apartment buildings on the same tract of land, multiple mobile homes or manufactured homes on the same tract of land, as well as multiple RVs or strip/multi-use business centers with a common owner. << <95> <95> <2022> Instead, growth should pay for growth, even if a current member is responsible for the new growth through the addition of a second meter on their property. <85> <85> <2026> <00> The short answer is yes, the WSC/district board can change their tariff/service policy to allow for meters to be set on someone elses property. He has offered to buy a ladder, but does not want it left all the time, only when the meter is read. Some of this cost will be paid by these new customers once they start paying their monthly water bill, but the previous customers not only have been paying for what it costs for them to receive water delivered to their homes, they have also been paying a bit extra toward the complete debt-service for all existing capacity. Q: We are revising our tariff. %PDF-1.7 <9A> <9A> <0161> Your tariff should include the requirements for evaluating an application for a master meter. How do we determine base rates for 2- or 3-inch meters? <80> <80> <20AC> Know how, know you | We are IQ-EQ, a leading investor services group employing 4300+ people across 24 jurisdictions worldwide. However, the only leverage we have is to disconnect service to the convenience store in order to compel the chain restaurant to get a separate meter. "General Plan" means the General Plan prepared by Developer as submitted to Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. Does the owner have the choice of either getting a meter for each unit or getting one master meter? Finally, if the property owner intends to keep the well for irrigation purposes, it cannot be tied back into any line connected to the systems new master meter. If your 1.5 inch line is already overloaded, then the WSC is responsible for paying for the difference in costs from a two inch line to serve the single applicant to the 6 inch line your engineers say is required to install. <85> <85> <2026> <00> <00> <0000> My question is, how do we verify the boundaries of properties for this purpose? <> One of our customers is demanding that she keep her meter since she paid for it and she feels it should be hers to keep. begincmap The quadplexes were built in 2006 and are not located within the boundaries of a city. endstream endobj 70 0 obj<> endobj 72 0 obj<> endobj 73 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 74 0 obj<>stream If your systems tariff contains the same language as TRWAs sample tariff, failure to remedy this hazardous condition is subject to disconnection without notice, and ultimately cancellation of membership due to policy non-compliance in accordance with Section E if the issue is not remedied. ~0r; Institutional 4. If there is reason to believe a dangerous or hazardous condition exists, the corporation may conduct a customer service inspection (CSI) to verify the hazardous condition and may notify the local county health office. R02 includes a pool and lawn and landscape irrigation of the lot as long as there is no separate irrigation meter. The defined area is depicted in Appendix 1. A. If it is a single tract of land and the plumbing to each of these eight units is all combined into one common line, then a master meter would probably be the better option for this applicant. Section 290.38 defines a connection as "a single-family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied from the system." Including this language in a notification letter to all utility customers will help explain why the system is requiring a change for existing multiple connections. <82> <82> <201A> endstream endobj 1 0 obj<> endobj 2 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 3 0 obj<>stream The date of construction is not relevant to the issue of whether a single master meter or individual meters would be preferable; however, it is important when considering the required customer service inspection (CSI) which must be completed for all eight units and the tract of property to be served. /Registry (CourierOPBaseFont1) ]BA Y,bps`>x/@HnqXNZ1yek5Fq8:^bV_W =.*'&0Y5E4oUpcbT6P,SkV/ lliF7LEM]AgDtC,a]oaF![Oi0 qy}>XPN&:VYCp>F0 " A: New meters are supposed to be calibrated and ready to use when shipped to systems. endcodespacerange <9E> <9E> <017E> The correspondence should also include a date on which service will be disconnected if the customer fails to make arrangements for the CSI. >> def Published in May/June 2020 (Issue 3 of Quench). We bring together that rare . 10. 0000001388 00000 n <86> <87> <2020> Industrial 3. Q: A member of our WSC has two water meters on his property. <9D> <9D> <2022> <93> <94> <201C> Big problems can occur when either of the properties changes hands. Q: A current member of our WSC has asked for a second meter on their property. Therefore, existing customers have been paying for extra capacity for many years and these new customers are being asked to provide a portion of the cost associated with the capacity they will be using. 5' /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> There is nothing that prevents a customer from having a separate meter just for their irrigation system. Back in 2004, TRWA staff met with TCEQ to discuss several issues relating to their capacity regulations and interpretations. Do you have a source for best practices when planning to deal with this issue? <7F> <7F> <2022> A: TRWA hasnt tracked the number of systems that have installed electronic read meters, whether they be the AMR (drive-by) or AMI (instrumental gathered information) meters. In the event that the placement ends up being wrong, the PUC would likely side with the owner in a dispute about relocation costs because they would see it as the utility shirking its responsibility to exercise due diligence when it set the meter in the wrong location in the first place. The ERUs would be equivalent to what would be used by typical single-family residences, if they were using the water. end % A: TRWA does not make recommendations for rates, but we do provide rate calculation training so that a system can set proper rates that are equitable to all customers. <8A> <8A> <0160> Check to be sure these references are included in your tariff and if so, the member would be prohibited from extending service from one side of the road/alley or across a property line to provide service to a neighbors property not designated to receive service according to your tariff. In the case of choosing a meter read system, we suggest that the meter supplier provide you with a list of systems that uses their meters so your system can check out the pros and cons with other systems that are using the meters. Total non -residential 6. <89> <89> <2030> If the WSC has an easement properly filed at the courthouse for every line and meter, the new property owner cant make the system move the meter. 9CT 3 The Blue ater Contract defines a "LUE" as the capacity necessary to serve a single-family residential . (7#~mz*B TwIewVq_kgcQyQ4Jd/ K3E\_%9=G$#. The original members account should be closed out at the old address. Commercial 5. 67.016(d) provides that a corporation may make water or sewer service conditional on ownership of the real estate designated to receive service and from which the membership or other right of participation arises. Subsection (e) authorizes a corporation to cancel a persons membership if he fails to meet a condition of service prescribed by the corporation. 0000002966 00000 n 12 dict begin 0000001247 00000 n Next, the system may want to offer a compliance schedule so that service will not be interrupted during the construction and installation of a second meter on the property designated to receive service.. PUC rules also support the tariff stating that customers/members of a WSC are only qualified to receive service when theyve complied with the written provisions included in the WSCs tariff. There is no requirement where a WSC can request the landowner to be registered as a business. xc```a``A2@\(}drBf LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENT (LUE) GUIDANCE DOCUMENT Definition: A living unit equivalent (LUE) is defined as the typical flow that would be produced by a single family residence located in a typical subdivision. H|T0WQNd(>3IQb= It is not cost effective for us to run a six inch line extension just to supply water to one new house. The Commercial facilities are calculated by an Equivalent . Email: info@trwa.org, Water University/Utility Management Certification, TCEQ Requirement All Occupational Licensing, Wastewater Technical Assistance & Training Program, Click Here to Return to the Ask Larry Archives Homepage, Metering & One Meter per Residence Rules (Ask Larry). startxref pc#P3C"!GB448]o_ AtCCk*AC)ADc90cLrU <85> <85> <2026> Q: Our system has been asked to serve two quadplexes that were until recently supplied by wells that no longer produce water. 8P_zz[__z-os%DtGDrJb"" )A <88> <88> <02C6> Most manufacturers suggest straight runs of pipe ahead of and following a master meter. hbbd``b`+A| "[@@ebX H0X "$k $BG HI (,HW *##6F0 w to TCEQ rules regarding elevated storage, the number of connections that are allocated to the tract will be four, because that allocation is determined on the number of meter connections. The inspector would also check for chlorine residuals at any location which the customer says is being supplied water from a private well or other source. This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. /CMapType 2 def <96> <97> <2013> <00AE> Should not effect transit. Use some water out of the storage tank (ground or elevated). Since the two businesses have separated and are no longer on the same property, then the convenience store is diverting water to another property, which constitutes an illegal connection or transfer of water from one property to another. Until Saturday there was a higher level called "very high-risk area where there is a variant of concern" but that category . <00> The District currently encompasses 767 acres and is located wholly within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston, Texas (the "City") and is located within Katy Independent School District. TRWA has provided numerous training sessions at conferences and at water system offices to demonstrate the impact of larger meters from a revenue impact as well as regulatory requirements. A: This is definitely not a new question - many systems have faced this situation over the years. The nagging question I have is what is the motive for this charity act and how long will it take for the fun to wear off? But the continued headaches and future problems will not be worth the bad public relations this can cause if anything happens to the service line or meter that is on someone elses property. Q: We have a customer who has his meter inside a fence. What should we do with these boxes? /CMapType 2 def %%EOF /CMapName /Times-RomanOPBaseFont0 def This only works for meter reading and does not solve the issue of access for repairs and emergencies. A: This is commendable for a system member to agree to read all the meters for your system at no cost. The rules go on to state that once a system begins to use some of that extra capacity, they need to begin designing specific improvements which will replace this used capacity. Then when these other services are discontinued those meters are removed by the utility that owns the meters, not the customer. This allows the water to straighten out and have less turbulence, thereby allowing the meter to register as accurately as possible. X1'H`7g3a*|f{h00eiF` BVb`+c0 z^ In the last couple of months, Ive heard from some systems that they were moving to totally enclosed and sealed registers. Each systems board will make the final decision on base rates, as well as usage rates and fees. Id like to offer an observation though, based on the information from the TRWA Sample Tariff. u5e` T Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? We want to be fair, but we also want be responsible. While this may have been more of an undertaking many years ago, most counties have modernized and this research can now generally be done from the systems office. V)bXAmXki65[I47l0B]jU6)ILRn64-7ZvJ"I7LTaTm,XMU0 aBa h5]A"BxV`fNX6:aRVi"Db03iT+P0MDDCDDDD/tL~~1"g43B6GA_628PL&hi$(pD=-RqGqSA$A%py>$kK/. /Supplement 0 This standard specifies that all chemicals used properly will not cause any health effects for the consumers. Sometimes multiple lines from multiple meters can become a maintenance nightmare because all the lines, meters and valves look the same. D/^&H A: TCEQ rule 290.44(a)(4) explains the purpose of the rule stating: Each community public water system shall provide accurate metering devices at each residential, commercial or industrial service connection for the accumulation of water usage data. This ensures that the water system can document that customers are being billed properly. A: You have a couple different issues to address. These references clearly state that the meter belongs to the corporation and is to be maintained by the corporation. <8E> <8E> <017D> A licensed operator of a water system can calibrate their own master meters regardless of size or type by using the volumetric calibration method. Different growth <89> <89> <2030> Not sure they have a higher level." Yes, his is true but interestingly only since 4 September. For customers who have their homes 500 feet or more off the road, meters may be relocated to the edge of the customers property instead of at the house. The base rates for larger meters should be set to pay for these larger required capacities instead of making the customers with standard size meters subsidize the customers with bigger meters that place more demand costs on the system. The impact fee and other front-end capital improvement fees also remain with the existing tap and location and should never be transferred to another property for the same reasons above. It is best to set the meters close to the structure to be served and to always obtain an easement for service lines and meters before new service is established. =4$y]/%(%DL 0000000766 00000 n A: This is a common problem for older systems as they try to come into compliance with newer rules. 0000006201 00000 n When a system sees that there is inequity in their current rate structure causing some customers to subsidize the water usage and capacity requirements for other customers, the board ought to rectify the situation by amending rates. And what if one or all of those new meters were located on the same property, but a half mile away from the end of your current line? Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. end This is a hard line for systems to take, but otherwise you are operating on an honor system in which the applicant has little incentive to uphold his or her end of the bargain. Present Ave. Daily Flow (B 6 + B 7 ) Single family - include all single family homes, mobile homes and seasonal dwellings in this category. Leakage 8. ESFCequivalent single-family connection. A standard single-family home is considered a standard ERU with other uses measured against this baseline. The TCEQ rules dont necessarily state that the calibration must take place upon installation but the clock has to start somewhere and the safe option is to calibrate the meter yourself or secure a certificate of accuracy from the meter company. 0000000825 00000 n The Members use of the Corporations curb stop or other similar valve for such purposes is prohibited. \\~;XBM?!GIjM_% ]$N6+ A;#-^V_J_K_Z!m?oW16d pzpDu@N_D}v54}aM,7=?9?rIh:O7U`BVM[np`&6+mC-Ot6)Rz 6+VM?mHAMA5i }l& <00A0> A particular manufacturer is selling a pretty good meter, but it is not certified and before I invest a lot of money into their radio read system I need someone to answer this question. There should be a calibration or certification of accuracy with the new meter. 69 0 obj<> endobj Any damage to the Corporations equipment shall be subject to service charges. From this, they can develop a plan that best provides service to the entire development considering the wishes of the developer and the system. <002D> If so, that is another major concern for liability should he interpret this agreement to read the meters as having free reign to the systems facilities. What can we do if the owner of the membership denies that someone is living at the second residence? 0000006249 00000 n The most immediate issue to address is the potential health hazard caused by the loss of pressure when the booster pump kicks on. \8h;""-[a]_aM7#0dpq6;tDdX)A!BuU ]H#Fjf )aAC;D Payment of these fees are reimbursable if and when the District sells Bonds for that purpose and the TCEQ . <00> They summarized that because there had been a meter at that location, the new applicant should not be responsible to pay for upgrades to the water mains because of new customers being added at other locations along that same water main.
Seaside Heights Band Schedule,
Wwba World Championship 2021,
Puppies For Sale Spencerport, Ny,
Articles T
*
Be the first to comment.