It appears they have done this to supply water to more than 60 small rental homes on two 5/8 x 3/4 meters. Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. 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. 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? endstream endobj 77 0 obj<>/BaseFont/Courier/FirstChar 0/LastChar 255/Subtype/Type1/ToUnicode 78 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 0 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600]>> endobj 78 0 obj<>stream 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? 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. 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. Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. startxref <9D> <9D> <2022> Box 13087, If the main water line(s) are near the public roads, then the system may offer to move the meter down to the road. It is unclear whether the units are part of any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs for low-income residents. 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. If your engineer has not approved the use of the booster pump or sized the lines and meters to accommodate the 60 rental homes, the customer is not in compliance with the terms of the agreement and your tariff. <8F> <8F> <2022> Id like to offer an observation though, based on the information from the TRWA Sample Tariff. 0000000015 00000 n There is nothing in TCEQs Chapter 290 regulations which addresses the above scenario dealing with pre-existing taps that have been removed. I told her that was incorrect and that I would mail her the documentation to prove it. After you establish a system's ERU quantity, you can use it to determine the number of ERUs for other types of service connections. There is no requirement where a WSC can request the landowner to be registered as a business. 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. endbfrange 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. <9C> <9C> <0153> <00AE> u6hhOk\GhExG-GMYsjYQC\+8*w}ap|B"[C>B\`y[%s*H X[S.3Sj_S\Z'e5TsAd D>~/mOJ>hnm={^hcb(T-C2bm4M"#Zg7;qqFY(kG1jCA XZ0SRpnNN7aQR7.LX*VAT\pPx(aPs 1 year ago. \8h;""-[a]_aM7#0dpq6;tDdX)A!BuU ]H#Fjf )aAC;D Example: A 20-space trailer park with a 2-inch meter has been evaluated by some TCEQ inspectors to be the actual number of trailer spaces available. <7F> <7F> <2022> 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. A: The answer is yes, its not only ethical, its also both fair and necessary. 363 0 obj 69 0 obj<> endobj 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. <90> <90> <2022> Fax: 512.472.5186 Google Map, Tel: 512.472.8591 My question is, how do we verify the boundaries of properties for this purpose? Setting the meter on the property owned by the applicant is always the best policy. <80> <80> <20AC> <20> <7E> <0020> The customer says there is a gate at the back of his property (more than 500 feet away). <84> <84> <201E> 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? Any damage to the Corporations equipment shall be subject to service charges. 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. <98> <98> <02DC> Turn off all valves connected to the distribution system so that no water leaves the tank during test period. Is this legal or what problems could this create? 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. The WSC board can amend the water rates at any board meeting where rate adjustments are posted as an agenda item for action. Master District that constitutes an Equivalent Single Family Connection, which amount may be changed from time to time. <00AE> <9A> <9A> <0161> \\~;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& <>/OutputIntents[358 0 R]/Metadata 360 0 R>> 1 begincodespacerange 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. Billable flow (B 1 + B 5) 7. 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. <96> <97> <2013> The TRWA Sample Tariff addresses this issue and follows the Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chapter 24 rules about the systems ability to access a meter for repairs and normal service. endstream endobj 70 0 obj<> endobj 72 0 obj<> endobj 73 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 74 0 obj<>stream (In fact, conservation rates can escalate, in proportion to the total gallons, for customers using the greatest amounts of water on a monthly basis.) Q: A member of our WSC has two water meters on his property. Some systems do require individual meters to each different apartment, condo or other type business that is all owned by one individual or company. 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. Q: We are revising our tariff. Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? All connections shall be calculated based upon its equivalency to a customary Equivalent Single Family Connection using the City of Houston's equivalency table. 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. 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 These cost-of-service issues have subsequently been transferred to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), which has been very pro-consumer when addressing complaints. <85> <85> <2026> <80> <80> <20AC> 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. <8D> <8D> <2022> <99> <99> <2122> Statewide Photo Campaign Promoting Drought Awareness Launches August 5! 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. First, the one meter per residence language should be part of your tariff or service policy. <7F> <7F> <2022> I1Aq sa:VAza:o ~6_9d23\@GfqQ H4o?a Z}*B"E}I"}}-}oKk$D%+M?AGPf!Sn$_ WzIj&?K/GrwkIL ( kZPiu-Jbg\N2A;$_J|MS[t7P]"nSx}tcGl>^ZKeKH^ZURCZjVAiU&6mvTAl/wDXIvS-U*Kv[GAWBk'3TnM(u"wP4n": $ ZJ[$+n4b=J}}0_LWjcF;0kc.#1I-u}'[{W}$LSKUnUKI.DW~mR^Np voZNL*aAnh^Xo;kji,5]4>Q/ZhB4cq: TuMBv;M8OPhFGDDDDE_k#[vD4 Dr(~[uk_w~'oa_}2;WdASMS aA aV* 8IxFDDDDD_B""#__O &FF#0B>"(4#c3h*E/#!!80 "Df"qdp%_d$vHf -Uyxn/dqHGci|GE800f:(F/GG0xG#xx DDD-p0 0000001388 00000 n Those base rates dont have to be the actual meter size equivalent listed in the TRWA Sample Tariff, but one of the reasons/ justifications for a higher base rate for these larger meters is the TCEQs capacity requirements that each system must maintain. 0000053091 00000 n HT :SYA"e2=pmn':"^Ptvop?L`EekP)H:^OK)XNI <00> <00> <0000> Now the member wants the water meter moved to a different property about 100 yards from its original location. <]/Info 87 0 R/Prev 844706 >> He does not want us to move the meter outside the fence for safety reasons. 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. begincmap Next, the utility should contact the systems engineer to obtain a study showing how the number and location of the different dwellings are situated on the tract of land. What can we do if the owner of the membership denies that someone is living at the second residence? 0000001445 00000 n 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 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. Published in May/June 2020 (Issue 3 of Quench). <95> <95> <2022> <0D> <0D> <000D> A: If your board has adopted the basic TRWA Sample Tariff language, then the meter costs and impact fee should stay with the property on which the meter was initially installed. <9E> <9E> <017E> 0000000903 00000 n endobj This certificate should meet the TCEQ master meter test requirements for initial installation of the meter. Would this person also have access to the system office or have keys to the water plants? It is never a good idea to set a meter at one residence with a yard or service line running across the property to the next active connection. 0000001146 00000 n If your system refunds memberships then the original member should get their membership back and the new property owner should pay for a new membership. Based on my experience, a great number of systems opt to have a single meter properly sized to meet the service needs requested by the owner instead of having multiple smaller master meters or even individual meters for each apartment. <8E> <8E> <017D> xref The assumed population equivalent per connection should be indicated. We don't know what size the line is behind the meters or how they have them hooked up. 71 0 obj<>stream 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. The problem comes when that good person moves out and someone else purchases the front property and doesnt care for or even know the folks behind their property, and wants the customers service line and meter removed from their property. As it relates to the propertys location within or outside of a city, or its participation in any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs, it will be the owners responsibility to notify any necessary authorities of the new source of water, if required, since the system is merely supplying potable water to the property from a master meter. We encourage you to consider options for providing service and, most immediately, to ensure compliance with the 85 percent requirement. Does the owner have the choice of either getting a meter for each unit or getting one master meter? 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. <8C> <8C> <0152> 0000000586 00000 n ~0r; %%EOF 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. <85> <85> <2026> 0000003802 00000 n We really need to understand the regulations and what action we need to take prior to approaching either business. Therefore, removing the meter box completely could allow the utility to reduce its total number of connections for purposes of determining the systems necessary capacity. 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. 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? Know how, know you | We are IQ-EQ, a leading investor services group employing 4300+ people across 24 jurisdictions worldwide. We had the owner submit a feasibility study and it shows that we can support them. 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). Published February/March 2021 (Issue 1 of Quench). 3 The Blue ater Contract defines a "LUE" as the capacity necessary to serve a single-family residential . endstream endobj startxref 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. endbfrange The side benefit of the AMI technology is that when someone reports a leak in the system, this type of meter allows the system to read meters in that section to determine if the leak is from their system lines or from overwatering or leaks on the customers side. <88> <88> <02C6> H_w"'i.wF%P)O /Supplement 0 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. 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. The result is an estimate of total <91> <92> <2018> endstream endobj 340 0 obj <. 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. <80> <80> <20AC> First, the customer must supply the system a final plat showing the intended use and ultimate development of the property to be served. The most immediate issue to address is the potential health hazard caused by the loss of pressure when the booster pump kicks on. endstream endobj 4 0 obj<>stream u5e` T 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. /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> endcmap 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. The system needs to be aware of the potential liability issues with such an arrangement and should contact the systems insurance provider to find out what, if anything, would be covered if the person is injured while reading meters or causes an accident or damages some customers property. 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. <90> <90> <2022> I have visited several systems who have purchased AMR meters that are compatible with the AMI meters. 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. Afo/.# G(omQb#\9 Q: We have a customer who has his meter inside a fence. The member wants to know if a neighbor can hook up to the meter and if so, under what circumstances. begincmap 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). I have also seen frustration when the front property owner requests a second meter from the system and the line is at capacity. Our employees drive around the community daily and can tell that there are clearly people living at these second residences. Save. Do you have a source for best practices when planning to deal with this issue? What options do we have to address this issue? 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. The member knows that resale of the water for a profit is not allowed. <8A> <8A> <0160> 9CT 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. >> def 374 0 obj 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.. Q. <93> <94> <201C> 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. stream HWn8}7vR}\d.P`! <9F> <9F> <0178> 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. xc```a``A2@\(}drBf Q: We have been made aware of a customer who has installed an inline booster pump on their side of the meter. Some meter manufacturers also require strainers or other devices to be installed to protect the meter and straighten or condition the water so that their meters will be as accurate as possible. The Commercial facilities are calculated by an Equivalent . 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 /CourierOPBaseFont1 def 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.
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