/Registry (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) /Registry (CourierOPBaseFont1) 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. <9F> <9F> <0178> 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. <91> <92> <2018> <00AE> <00A0> xb```a``Jc`f`ed@ Ar,8-O00/2\B;wOg`Xl_SKl}w>5">%QPH2F50e00,c 5RJf5v zn ' +\AF> Prior to initial connection of any Customer other than a single-family residential Customer, the District's Engineer shall calculate . Given more information about your utility we may have suggestions regarding ideas on sharing the cost of any upgrade. D/^&H Even if the customer would only need standard service, TRWAs Sample Tariff includes the requirement that the property of the applicant/ member shall be inspected to ensure compliance with state required Minimum Acceptable Operating Practices for Public Drinking Water Systems as promulgated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) or successor agency. 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. The assumed population equivalent per connection should be indicated. Well get someone to demonstrate the rate template weve designed and provided to systems across the state. 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.. endstream endobj startxref 0000036396 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. I have also seen frustration when the front property owner requests a second meter from the system and the line is at capacity. The District is subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the "TCEQ"). Then a straight run of pipe at least three times the diameter of the pipe after the meter. /CMapType 2 def 0 The normal straight run of pipe prior to the meter is five times the diameter of the pipe. 374 0 obj 6^u9Z{s DraDsio1,m?Ph/&KZlho_ryP This includes design, review and approval of all plans and all on-site and off-site service facilities by the corporations engineer and compliance with any applicable municipal or other governmental codes and specifications. 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.. To your knowledge, are there any parts of the tariff that would prohibit the member from entering into such an agreement or any part of the regulations that would prohibit such an agreement or jeopardize the systems compliance? <8B> <8B> <2039> 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. Any damage to the Corporations equipment shall be subject to service charges. 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. :SYA"e2=pmn':"^Ptvop?L`EekP)H:^OK)XNI This can make it difficult for maintenance personnel to identify which line is leaking and increase maintenance expenses compared to a situation with a single meter and a single yard line. CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin <83> <83> <0192> ]BA Y,bps`>x/@HnqXNZ1yek5Fq8:^bV_W =.*'&0Y5E4oUpcbT6P,SkV/ lliF7LEM]AgDtC,a]oaF![Oi0 qy}>XPN&:VYCp>F0 " <00> The NSF 60 standard is for chemicals used in a water system. Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? 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. Q: What can you tell me about the new "electronic read" meters on the market today? <8D> <8D> <2022> Also, since the lead ban was in effect when the units were constructed in 2006, the CSI inspector should use swabs to test the plumbing for led. In order to correct the issue, the system must first have supporting language in its tariff. end 0000000766 00000 n (This cut-off valve may be installed as a part of the original meter installation by the Corporation.). Additionally, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules require that all public water systems be designed with a minimum of 15 percent extra capacity. 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. The board can amend the current charge to whatever they determine to be fair to the ratepayers. This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. 0000002966 00000 n 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. C+vdt\?K(Pwu,Gu-=s-^|8o!$cntc}Egg=/ckY0 \ <9A> <9A> <0161> Define Equivalent Single-Family Connection. end A: Master metered accounts are typically used when a landowner wants a single meter to provide water service to multiple buildings, apartments, offices, trailer spaces or other types of business activities. pSaU0t}% tAkmBxJ _`TzJjzm*cUxh$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 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). Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. 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. lmr19a9s;rw;A$PsI@mr+9pB? The member wants to know if a neighbor can hook up to the meter and if so, under what circumstances. 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? 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. << Q. Connections may be described in terms of single family equivalent connections, living unit of equivalents, or any other generally accepted unit of consumption typically attributable to a single family household. 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. While the board of directors is keeping the old monthly charges and rates, we only have a base rate for 1 -inch meters. Q: We have several members who have second living residences at their home, but only one meter. The inspector may also require the customer to demonstrate or show how water pipes at the secondary home are independent of the piping serving the customers primary residence. <98> <98> <02DC> <91> <92> <2018> <00> Some folks opt for wells of around 300 gallons per minute or less to use a fire truck or tanker instead of climbing an elevated tank to do the measuring twice. 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. CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop <09> <0A> <0009> Most manufacturers suggest straight runs of pipe ahead of and following a master meter. We don't know what size the line is behind the meters or how they have them hooked up. It is unclear whether the units are part of any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs for low-income residents. xc```a``A2@\(}drBf (2) Active connection, as used in this section, means a lot or . The actual cost of the meter and installation should be assessed as well. When setting these new meters, it is important to remember that if the property is subdivided in the future, each meter should be on the property with the residence or structure to be served. Others were due to leaks grounding out meters. All usage rates per thousand gallons should be the same across all classes of ratepayers, although conservation rates, designed to encourage efficient and non-wasteful water use practices by customers, can assess higher usage rates per thousand gallons for customers using more than a specified amount each month. 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. 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). 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. <9B> <9B> <203A> fA=~0xO}wASICHzKnp[o Do they have to register as a business with the state or get a water commercial permit? Our system is more than 40 years old and there are about 20 properties that have more than one residence on a single meter. In the last couple of months, Ive heard from some systems that they were moving to totally enclosed and sealed registers. Installing multiple meters on a single undivided property with a line running across the property could lead to easement issues in the future. o0?LgGt{Cifk_Kat2'~ez{*R,r08e0@Bf1+oxG t%&L!XD(gTn6"LXa9t> A licensed operator of a water system can calibrate their own master meters regardless of size or type by using the volumetric calibration method. Single family Non-Residential Flow (gpd) # Users 2. (In fact, conservation rates can escalate, in proportion to the total gallons, for customers using the greatest amounts of water on a monthly basis.) One of these meters is on a 1"water main line and the other meter on a 1 1/2 water main line. The customer must, at his or her expense, properly install, inspect, test, maintain and provide all required documentation of any approved backflow prevention device required by the corporation (30 TAC 290.46(j); Section I Service Application and Agreement). Next write down the master meter reading on the meter to be tested. It is not cost effective for us to run a six inch line extension just to supply water to one new house. Our engineers say the only way we can meet TCEQ standards for water distribution if we add the meter is with a six-inch line extension. Your board should look at all the different access related issues at customer locations and define in your tariff what the system considers to be reasonable access to the meters. Our employees drive around the community daily and can tell that there are clearly people living at these second residences. A: You have a couple different issues to address. The customer says there is a gate at the back of his property (more than 500 feet away). 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. In addition to the cost of the meter installation as well as any upfront impact or buy in fees. NSF 61 states that all components and materials used to cast or create the water works material/parts not contain any banned substances and that the meter, pipe, and/or parts have been properly constructed with the appropriate base materials. [tF]JJfSHYs8n?G?#ZS^n#E|WHxt2o1BBb.el+Dijwv-7ajcn7mY 6ii>a!0Y7"9ET3 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. 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. s)Q0tWN /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin <86> <87> <2020> 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. (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. A: The property owner may have a single master meter as long as the property is not divided or does not consist of separate tracts of land. <8E> <8E> <017D> IQ-EQ | 110,749 followers on LinkedIn. Know how, know you | We are IQ-EQ, a leading investor services group employing 4300+ people across 24 jurisdictions worldwide. Payment of these fees are reimbursable if and when the District sells Bonds for that purpose and the TCEQ . Q: One of our members sold their property and land but did not transfer the membership. Any correspondence you send to this regard should include a deadline for the customers to contact the system to set up a CSI so the utility can verify whether any prohibited interconnection between the two dwellings exists. 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. We think this might turn into a public relations problem. These waivers usually apply only when the customer voluntarily contacts the system to either install the appropriate number of meters or allow for inspection by system staff to verify that the other connections are not being used. Published February/March 2021 (Issue 1 of Quench). 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. Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. <09> <0A> <0009> 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. <<9e8032b06c2c514a87349e8822134d26>]>> Does the owner have the choice of either getting a meter for each unit or getting one master meter? Google Map, Tel: 512.472.8591 Check to see if this reference is included anywhere and if not, call the supplier or the manufacturer for a copy to keep in your files in case the question comes up in the future. 1 year ago. Amstelveen is a leafy, prosperous, family-oriented suburb close to Amsterdam, which has a growing population of international residents. <8F> <8F> <2022> w;A`@3YceL 0a0DD8T#_ _~qd"D|%U0 a`q]HEWls!G29h4 A standard single-family home is considered a standard ERU with other uses measured against this baseline. 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. How should this be handled? <85> <85> <2026> Customers that do not report multiple connections, causing utility employees to have to investigate the matter, are usually denied these waivers. The capacity is being used either way, and these new meters and customers are utilizing their share of the systems resources. connection (living unit equivalent) that for the purposes of this Amended Agreement shall be Six Hundred Fifty X1'H`7g3a*|f{h00eiF` BVb`+c0 z^ 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. This certificate should meet the TCEQ master meter test requirements for initial installation of the meter. These items became assets and therefore had to be maintained and upgraded at the expense of the water system. 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. 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.. <81> <81> <2022> Now the member wants the water meter moved to a different property about 100 yards from its original location. 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. Also do you have any recommendations for a particular meter read system? The WSC board can amend the water rates at any board meeting where rate adjustments are posted as an agenda item for action. <82> <82> <201A> Your WSC cannot demand that a person pay the entire cost to extend a 6 inch line unless the engineer determines that is the size line it takes to serve that particular applicant. What should we do? HWn8}7vR}\d.P`! TCEQ staff at the time said it would be ok for a system to remove dormant or vacant taps even down to the water main, but the system could not assess any future applicant a new front-end contribution or equity buy-in fee, equipment costs to replace the assets being removed and possibly another membership fee if the system used non-refundable membership fees at those locations where these taps had been removed. u5e` T A water well is a hole drilled into an aquifer with a pipe, screen, and pump to pull water out of the ground. In this case, applicants pay for what is necessary to provide them with their individual service, including his or her part of line upgrades, wells, tanks or treatment capacities before receiving service or entering into a service contract; the system pays for any facility capacity in excess of what the individual needs. TCEQ assesses the adequacy of a systems capacity on the number of connections on that system and takes into account the number and sizes of larger meters on that system. begincmap The corporation will disconnect without notice if the member refuses to allow access for the purpose of confirming the existence of such condition and/or removing the dangerous or hazardous condition (30 TAC 290.46(i) and 290.46(j)). Now subtract the first master meter reading from the current meter reading and compare that to the gallons added to the tank. 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. The CSI inspector should make a note on the CSI form stating that the well has been completely disconnected from all the potable water lines serving the dwelling units. Q: Can a WSC allow a homeowner to have an additional meter for the sole purpose of running the sprinkler system for their lawn and landscape? <00A0> 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. PUC rules also specify the requirements for language that must be included in the rental agreement regarding submetering, how the charges are to be calculated and how billing is to be conducted. 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. All public water systems that hold CCNs (or are required to hold CCNs) must plan upgrades to the system when a facility, including distribution lines, reaches 85 percent of total capacity so that the improvement or upgrade is imminent or already in place once the facility item under consideration reaches 100 percent capacity. =4$y]/%(%DL <9E> <9E> <017E> Then when these other services are discontinued those meters are removed by the utility that owns the meters, not the customer. There should be a calibration or certification of accuracy with the new meter. ~A%b u;_K[O]u?__KVX?p5~5Ka%K}>k47Z=j{u__t <93> <94> <201C> Duplexes and triplexes are sufficiently similar to single family homes so that a duplex equals twice the ERU . How do you protect the integrity of the system when you do not know the background or intent of the person performing the volunteer work? 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. 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. <9A> <9A> <0161> <83> <83> <0192> What should we do with these boxes? 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. <93> <94> <201C> The sample tariff also allows service to be disconnected, after notice, if access is denied for three consecutive months. 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. pc#P3C"!GB448]o_ AtCCk*AC)ADc90cLrU \8h;""-[a]_aM7#0dpq6;tDdX)A!BuU ]H#Fjf )aAC;D Q: A current member of our WSC has asked for a second meter on their property. If a system has a trailer park, RV park, apartments, and so on being served by one meter, the TCEQ doesnt count it as one connection but either counts the number of spaces being served or calculates the capacity needed by size of meter. trailer "Equivalent residential units" or "ERU" is a unit of measurement based upon a standard single-family residential home used to establish rates, fees and charges and volume capacity limits. The one meter per residence just means that a customer can't have two or more residences or businesses on a single meter. According to subchapter D, rule 290.46(s)(1), flow measuring devices and rate-of-flow controllers that are required by 290.42(d) of this title (relating to Water Treatment) shall be calibrated at least once every 12 months. for the single-family residential customer group. <90> <90> <2022> However, due to some political maneuvering several years ago, some exceptions were included in the Texas Administrative Code that allow the commissions executive director to permit master metering when applicable. Master District that constitutes an Equivalent Single Family Connection, which amount may be changed from time to time.
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