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. Using the formula 3.14 X Radius X Radius X Height X 7.48 (gallons per cubic feet) you can calculate the number of gallons of water added to the storage tank. %OEG+HqH\9-:Y2=Ht),h1#d W% `9B-eR+0 This is the back property customers responsibility. There are many different types and uses of wells. <96> <97> <2013> or ESFC- shall mean the amount of capacity allocated to a commercial customer expressed in terms of the amount of capacity used by a single-family residence, as determined by the volume and type of wastewater discharge. We really need to understand the regulations and what action we need to take prior to approaching either business. These existing capacity components were and are being paid for through monthly water rates. TRWA has always recommended in our sample tariff that All meters be installed on the property designated to receive service. Using this policy keeps the system dealing directly with the property owner and member of the WSC or the customer of the district instead of having to deal with a property owner or future property owner that doesnt want someone elses meter and service line on their property. First, the one meter per residence language should be part of your tariff or service policy. Our employees drive around the community daily and can tell that there are clearly people living at these second residences. <8E> <8E> <017D> The closest thing we have to a bottom line here is that a system can remove the meter, but they still need to maintain capacity at that same location in case a future applicant wants to re-install another water meter there. Big problems can occur when either of the properties changes hands. The best way to verify whether a customer has a prohibited second connection is by performing a new customer service inspection (CSI). 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. Only the labor to reinstall the meter, a new customer service inspection fee, the BPAT test if there was a backflow assembly there before, and the refundable membership fees could be charged to the new applicant at that previously served location. Q: Our system has been asked to serve two quadplexes that were until recently supplied by wells that no longer produce water. Some systems try to solve this issue by installing remote read meters (AMR) that allow the employee to drive by all the meter locations and the meters transmit the readings to a base unit in the vehicle. An LUE is assumed to represent 3.5 people living in a residence. I am not aware of any legal or state regulations that would prohibit this, but I caution your board to look at every conceivable contingency and try to address them before agreeing to this free meter reading offer. 389 0 obj <>stream <86> <87> <2020> endstream endobj 340 0 obj <. 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). Throughout my time at TRWA, I have seen too many systems that have allowed customers to dictate where they wanted their meters to be set. Q: How important is the NSF 60 certification on meters or does it even matter? The average daily flow for domestic use shall be calculated at the minimum rate of 100 gallons per day per capita (gpdpc) and an Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC) of 2.5 persons per single-family residence and 2.2 persons per multi-family and mobile home units.. The board can amend the current charge to whatever they determine to be fair to the ratepayers. /CIDSystemInfo The NSF 60 standard is for chemicals used in a water system. All new customers or applicants for water service use some of the systems existing facilities and capacity that was already in place things like pipe lines, tanks, wells, pumps and so on. Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. pc#P3C"!GB448]o_ AtCCk*AC)ADc90cLrU Q: Our system is replacing all of our meters. trailer Then when these other services are discontinued those meters are removed by the utility that owns the meters, not the customer. 0 A: In the TRWA Sample Tariff, as well as in the USDA-RD Service Application and Agreement Form, it states that a meter shall be installed on a property to serve that single property and water cannot be diverted to another property. Due to an expansion, the two split and are now serviced by the same meter. Systems are not required to do expensive title searches, but they should require applicants for service to provide a legal deed or ownership proof showing that the person applying for water or sewer service owns that tract of land. 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. The most immediate issue to address is the potential health hazard caused by the loss of pressure when the booster pump kicks on. The extra 15 percent capacity is supposed to be maintained by the system (not paid for by the new customer), but the system may require applicants requesting service to pay for some of the system upgrades that will be used by that applicant. <8E> <8E> <017D> <82> <82> <201A> 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. One note here about equipment costs to replace the assets being removed TCEQ explained this to include the price of a meter, tapping saddle, curb stops, meter box, service tubing and any parts which were purchased by the original applicant when the service was first installed. fA=~0xO}wASICHzKnp[o <09> <0A> <0009> Now subtract the first master meter reading from the current meter reading and compare that to the gallons added to the tank. How should this be handled? Many times, a customer has a shut off valve installed to the second residence that can be turned off for plumbing repairs or when inspections like these are to be conducted. 0000000766 00000 n It is up to each customer to determine whether they must register as a business with the state or not. We encourage you to consider options for providing service and, most immediately, to ensure compliance with the 85 percent requirement. For example, in Section E, Members Responsibility: d. Therefore, all water usage registering upon and/or damages occurring to the metering equipment owned and maintained by the Corporation shall be subject to charges as determined by the Corporations Tariff as amended from time to time by the Board of Directors. <8D> <8D> <2022> Well get someone to demonstrate the rate template weve designed and provided to systems across the state. D/^&H Assuming the meter is the standard size, residential 3/4 x 5/8 meter, you will use the same rate structure for the irrigation meters since the water is the same treated water that is being distributed by your system. <8C> <8C> <0152> Most importantly, you should enforce these policies and refuse to set a meter until you are satisfied that the applicant does, in fact, own the property on which the meter will be placed. <8B> <8B> <2039> The Commercial facilities are calculated by an Equivalent . The ERUs would be equivalent to what would be used by typical single-family residences, if they were using the water. <00> <00> <0000> (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> Given more information about your utility we may have suggestions regarding ideas on sharing the cost of any upgrade. Q: What is the purpose of the restriction on multiple connections to a single tap rule? <9B> <9B> <203A> The sample tariff allows the system to estimate a bill and notify the member of the estimate if meter access is hindered or denied. One ESFC is defined as equaling a typical detached single-family house. %PDF-1.5 % Q. <9E> <9E> <017E> 0000000586 00000 n g MLu]VxcN[4wosYpe$C4-`#`:euD=G)\IGiuu}o\2kr%Scw#LBSkEkG=] i"a8S7EB=w=N Either way, the system has to maintain these higher capacities of well production, storage tanks, pumps, lines and so on, or be fined for non-compliance for violations of 30 TAC Section 290.45 of the TCEQs rules. -tjOXWIR-9L#|qAH)=ya[AXO>_u 9U]](M:?`^V a/X`jsV60;aC}18Y_{/c%nmVlf.0FVL <9A> <9A> <0161> Is this a fool-proof verification? <85> <85> <2026> After you establish a system's ERU quantity, you can use it to determine the number of ERUs for other types of service connections. <96> <97> <2013> Do we have to provide water to the new meter on this line? You should always keep the safety of your employees in mind and act within the law. 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. 1 begincodespacerange This letter should outline the PUC requirements for an accurate metering of water per connection. <88> <88> <02C6> endcmap 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. However, the applicant or landowner can request a single master meter if they dont want to re-plumb their entire property to accommodate individual meters. This just means that when the new or existing master meter needs to be tested, the operator can either use an existing, on-site storage tank or any large tanker (fire truck if the capacity is large enough) with a known capacity to verify the meter accuracy. endstream endobj startxref Some systems do require individual meters to each different apartment, condo or other type business that is all owned by one individual or company. <002D> /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> <8B> <8B> <2039> >> def <002D> 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. 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. <7F> <7F> <2022> 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. <81> <81> <2022> Extension of pipe(s) to transfer utility service from one property to another, to share, resell, or submeter water to any other persons, dwellings, businesses, or property, etc., is prohibited. 0 Q: A member of our WSC has two water meters on his property. >> def By doing this, when they get a few more meters, they can begin replacing the meter tops with these newer AMI tops. u5e` T 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. <00AE> 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. In addition to the cost of the meter installation as well as any upfront impact or buy in fees. 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. These previously existing meter locations had already paid for or been granted capacity from the water main, and therefore they should not be required to pay for system upgrades. In fact, there are laws about meter tampering, damage and diversion if a person is caught or found guilty of messing with a utilitys meters. B. Multi-Family Residential A twelve-inch (12") water main shall be required to loop through a multi-family district. <00A0> The original members account should be closed out at the old address. TRWA suggests that systems tell their customers to add the cost of their meter and impact fee to the cost of their property before they sell in order to fund installing another meter at their new location. Q: We are revising our tariff. <98> <98> <02DC> Not sure they have a higher level." Yes, his is true but interestingly only since 4 September. You should review this situation with your engineers. 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. <9D> <9D> <2022> The two businesses had been in a partnership in the past under one roof. 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. A water well is a hole drilled into an aquifer with a pipe, screen, and pump to pull water out of the ground. Other systems are installing AMR Meters for the first time, installing AMR Meters in high density or high-traffic areas or upgrading to AMI meters. <00A0> Is this legal or what problems could this create? I have visited several systems who have purchased AMR meters that are compatible with the AMI meters. <9F> <9F> <0178> There is nothing that prevents a customer from having a separate meter just for their irrigation system. 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 (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. As a general rule, the only difference should be in base rates based on size of meter as indicated in the TRWA Sample Tariff. Id like to offer an observation though, based on the information from the TRWA Sample Tariff. <20> <7E> <0020> 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. 36 beginbfrange TRWA recommends that systems stop floating memberships and meters from one property to another because of the confusion it creates. The actual cost of the meter and installation should be assessed as well. 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. There is an automatic gate that only works by remote and we do not have access to it. ]*U}%GikLf!=ZpcC[RqHL This can be as little as one foot or several feet of water added to the tank. HWn8}7vR}\d.P`! A: This is a common question. Q: One of our members sold their property and land but did not transfer the membership. The valve shall meet AWWA standards (a ball valve is preferred). Whatever the reason for requesting a second or third meter, they get irritated when they are denied the other meter (or told they will have to pay the cost of paralleling the line) while the person behind their property is enjoying a meter on their property. (16) Connection--A single family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied from the system. A licensed operator of a water system can calibrate their own master meters regardless of size or type by using the volumetric calibration method. 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. I have also seen frustration when the front property owner requests a second meter from the system and the line is at capacity. 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). There is also a concern about whether your easement allows system personnel to traverse 500 feet of the owners property. Published in May/June 2020 (Issue 3 of Quench). 339 0 obj <> endobj <09> <0A> <0009> 0 {e9Q $b@;l0$" Published in January/February 2020 (Issue 1 of Quench). Public wells supply drinking water to municipalities. If your system already has this language, then TRWA suggests that systems that have several multiple connection issues send out a letter informing all customers of pending changes or stepped up enforcement of existing policies. 0 <8E> <8E> <017D> 0000036396 00000 n Amstelveen is a leafy, prosperous, family-oriented suburb close to Amsterdam, which has a growing population of international residents. end ~0r; A: Yes, under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code you must provide service to the applicant if the location of the request for service lies within your certificated service area and your utility is privately owned or a nonprofit water supply corporation. The correspondence should also include a date on which service will be disconnected if the customer fails to make arrangements for the CSI. << <0D> <0D> <000D> Can you help me out with this? <8D> <8D> <2022> <81> <81> <2022> This saves the systems from having to maintain multiple meters and make multiple service trips to disconnect and reconnect individual rental property meters, allows for a single water bill to be mailed, and saves the property owner money by not requiring them to maintain multiple lines across their property. \"L&h6AKm5 ZydZ P*dGLr)9 3 (1) The requirements contained in this section are to be used in evaluating both the total capacities for public water systems and the capacities at individual pump stations and pressure planes which serve portions of the system that are hydraulically separated from, or incapable of being served by, other pump stations or pressure planes. %PDF-1.7 After getting this proof of ownership, the system should at least check the countys tax rolls and property tax maps to see whose name is listed for that property. By having only one meter to maintain near the road system, the owner would not be responsible for installing and thereafter maintaining individual lines and meters to each of the dwellings, or for disconnecting and reconnecting each individual units separate water meter. A: This is certainly a tricky situation but its one that many TRWA systems have faced when trying to enforce their tariff or district service policies. startxref endcodespacerange A: This is definitely not a new question - many systems have faced this situation over the years. We have generally required individual meters for each unit, but one owner wants to know if they can put in a 2-inch master meter for all 10 units in five nearby duplexes. Q: We have been made aware of a customer who has installed an inline booster pump on their side of the meter. Well meters required by 290.41(c)(3)(N) of this title (relating to Water Sources) shall be calibrated at least once every three years.. For water requirements, this includes consumptive uses, such as lawn 4Ct?3,RPapG}=>V"vIzJ*m'_ 3 The Blue ater Contract defines a "LUE" as the capacity necessary to serve a single-family residential . 0000001445 00000 n <82> <82> <201A> What should we do? If your board would like for one of TRWAs staff to attend a meeting to do some rate training, please contact our office. The member wants to know if a neighbor can hook up to the meter and if so, under what circumstances. This can lead to lawsuits and fights between neighbors and family members, and often the utility ends up bearing the brunt of these clashes. /CMapName /Times-RomanOPBaseFont0 def <> We want to be fair, but we also want be responsible. You could also require the applicant to provide this information as part of the application process. 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. Afo/.# G(omQb#\9 <9F> <9F> <0178> H|T0WQNd(>3IQb= Now climb the tank again after the well pump is stopped and measure the height of water again at the manway. C+vdt\?K(Pwu,Gu-=s-^|8o!$cntc}Egg=/ckY0 \ If your new meter is a 2-inch or smaller positive displacement meter, the straight pipe runs are not required for the meter to be accurate. [tF]JJfSHYs8n?G?#ZS^n#E|WHxt2o1BBb.el+Dijwv-7ajcn7mY 6ii>a!0Y7"9ET3 endstream endobj 5 0 obj<>/Width 2550/Height 3300/BitsPerComponent 1/ColorSpace/DeviceGray/Type/XObject/Name/background_2/Subtype/Image>>stream However, most of the time there isnt an easement filed between the two neighbors for the meter and service line from the front property to the back property being served. The quadplexes were built in 2006 and are not located within the boundaries of a city. /Ordering (UCS) Our system is more than 40 years old and there are about 20 properties that have more than one residence on a single meter. Ive also not heard of a system providing a water commercial permit. Use of the word commercial by a water system is typically a reference indicating that it is non-standard service and not a regular residential service location. Save. The main billing consideration is normally that meters for irrigation purposes only are typically not charged a sewer bill and if your system provides sewer service this could reduce the overall revenue if enough of these meters are installed. %%EOF There may be limitations that prevent using the meter when there is an outside water ban or other drought measures are in place. The original member will pay all costs associated with a new meter installation as if they were a new customer, since they are a new customer at this new location. We had the owner submit a feasibility study and it shows that we can support them. A: The answer is yes, its not only ethical, its also both fair and necessary. Under 30 TAC 290.38(16), "connection" means "A single-family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied" from the PWS. This has been a troublesome situation for many systems in the past and is a re-occurring problem for systems today. Is it ethical for us to charge a second equity buy-in fee for this meter if we already charged such a fee for their first meter? Over the past year Ive talked to at least a dozen systems with existing AMR meters who are upgrading or replacing them due to older meter batteries not holding up. Requiring employees to climb ladders to get over fences or traverse 500 feet of property may not be reasonable access for your system and could be considered denial of access. In many cases, system staff were simply too timid to enforce their own policies relating to meter locations if a customer raised their voice, said they would sue the system, or used an intimidating attitude. 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 "General Plan" means the General Plan prepared by Developer as submitted to Further, in the past we have seen many TCEQ investigators count dead taps into the systems overall capacity requirements using the assumption that at any time in the future the system would still be responsible for supplying not only the active connections but previously existing connections also. In order to correct the issue, the system must first have supporting language in its tariff. The one meter per residence just means that a customer can't have two or more residences or businesses on a single meter. Getting customers to understand is sometimes challenging. Turn off all valves connected to the distribution system so that no water leaves the tank during test period. xb```a``Jc`f`ed@ Ar,8-O00/2\B;wOg`Xl_SKl}w>5">%QPH2F50e00,c 5RJf5v zn ' +\AF> 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. A reason for rate training is so the board can justify the base and gallonage charges to all ratepayer classifications and also to TCEQ in case the rate is appealed. 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. How do we determine base rates for 2- or 3-inch meters? 0000001247 00000 n A: Master metered accounts are typically used when a landowner wants a single meter to provide water service to multiple buildings, apartments, offices, trailer spaces or other types of business activities. 0000000016 00000 n I was told the meter was installed when a relative lived in a trailer on the far end of the property, but the meter has not been used for many years. <83> <83> <0192> As an example, the number of service connections in an apartment complex would be equal to the number of individual apartment units. The meter and/or wastewater connection is for the sole use of the Member or customer and is to provide service to only one (1) dwelling or one (1) business. <7F> <7F> <2022> Not all the time, but it is usually pretty accurate unless another deed or court decree has been issued since the countys records were last updated. /CIDSystemInfo 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. <90> <90> <2022> n``N}@:\_EF-_*p"X;9$W'}',vl#A7.9J uph%(+u n'8i b9XAH03047:|clf`. pSaU0t}% tAkmBxJ _`TzJjzm*cUxh$IRJ\&O N'>Mg2:I&L=w.- ?A~}TmCi6?IV PnzN' k~"KcJMi?kvEw-a]z}k#AUGH}+ImKefXv~i^v0~Lz_ANxO}toc3X] u:^on}{_ZT_[=u?Z-?ZI{_oVVt}U&/z^mZowam}Mc*)Xk}v>51KuR[M45qQQE{N?ToTvM;,t_KvN=< SM4'e`]'vx\R"""""#[l&`Me!0|Ez/hDDDDDDipPL,qD_{nb~@ 7dnUEh(}|Df1emQ|DGX%A7q3+;* 2r'dDg&J":' tQT[NO1;Z" 0a;AS#ii The normal benefit to the applicant and the system is that the applicant/landowner can design their own water system within their property and not have to worry about multiple meters and which service lines goes to which office or trailer space. Prior to initial connection of any Customer other than a single-family residential Customer, the District's Engineer shall calculate . R02 includes a pool and lawn and landscape irrigation of the lot as long as there is no separate irrigation meter. A: Your question is very common for all rural and some urban systems. <9B> <9B> <203A> (This cut-off valve may be installed as a part of the original meter installation by the Corporation.). G{|(> 7 Q: We have several members who have second living residences at their home, but only one meter. We have several customers who have gates at the back of their homes and their homes are built at least 500 feet off the road. What a system considers to be reasonable access may vary. A: New meters are supposed to be calibrated and ready to use when shipped to systems. The sample tariff also allows service to be disconnected, after notice, if access is denied for three consecutive months. <82> <82> <201A> <9E> <9E> <017E> 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. Q: Can we install a meter on land that is not owned by the system member if he gets an easement from the land owner? 374 0 obj <8D> <8D> <2022> Written comments about an AO should be sent to the enforcement coordinator designated for each AO at the commission's central office at P.O. <8F> <8F> <2022> 0000053091 00000 n Some systems opt to offer discounts to customers that have multiple connections or to waive impact or other front-end capital improvement fees. 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. Single family Non-Residential Flow (gpd) # Users 2. 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? However, there are some situations where a brand-new meter is installed, and it doesnt register correctly. 0000002796 00000 n E8EVW:?m^_io~Kk^cQ"_fT"KMB!_ou ]oI_1QdpuOK_-21qWa;_?oN>?/]kD_I'XA_:4}]BhSl'~CA+u_;( m!QVa 8B*t6)(" L-6+$k "gbDF}/?# DWH&J_F#'2,dLj aPh0M0chw&H&; B,"m&_l/@^t\[O;H$w'p!;&C. <8A> <8A> <0160> <0D> <0D> <000D> An eight-inch (8") water main will generally be required to distribute water and provide fire protection within the multi-family district provided that the water main does not exceed 600 feet in length or serve more than two

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