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. u5e` T <80> <80> <20AC> -C BiOUuI jL33Vl4N2ZMA z&;~^*9KDzBW~Q(p7rp>dIi=7}%I~y[$+q_3i-#yzqwTxj/,Rz@S| (~x@dn <9A> <9A> <0161> Our engineer says we need to remove these, as we would be responsible for servicing them, including paying for upgrades, if a customer wants a meter for that box in the future. 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. 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. <9F> <9F> <0178> <00> <00> <0000> 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. Duplexes and triplexes are sufficiently similar to single family homes so that a duplex equals twice the ERU . /CMapName /Helvetica-ObliqueOPBaseFont5 def <98> <98> <02DC> <8B> <8B> <2039> Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. B. Multi-Family Residential A twelve-inch (12") water main shall be required to loop through a multi-family district. Public wells supply drinking water to municipalities. 8P_zz[__z-os%DtGDrJb"" )A <83> <83> <0192> Texas Administrative Code - Secretary of State of Texas There is also a concern about whether your easement allows system personnel to traverse 500 feet of the owners property. This can be as little as one foot or several feet of water added to the tank. 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. 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. %PDF-1.3 % This allows the water to straighten out and have less turbulence, thereby allowing the meter to register as accurately as possible. trailer Can you help me out with this? (In fact, conservation rates can escalate, in proportion to the total gallons, for customers using the greatest amounts of water on a monthly basis.) 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. The purpose of an equity buy-in fee is to establish parity between the new customer or applicant and those who have already been receiving service. 6^u9Z{s DraDsio1,m?Ph/&KZlho_ryP While the board of directors is keeping the old monthly charges and rates, we only have a base rate for 1 -inch meters. 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 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. PDF SECTION 2 - WATER SYSTEM DESIGN REQUIREMENTS - prospertx.gov /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin startxref /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin 0000005203 00000 n 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. 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. 363 0 obj 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. 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. Equivalent Single-Family Connection Definition | Law Insider 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? 0000001388 00000 n /Registry (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) end Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. 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. <9C> <9C> <0153> 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. The NSF 60 standard is for chemicals used in a water system. Climb the tank and use a steel measuring tape to measure the height of water in the tank to the manway. <8D> <8D> <2022> /CIDSystemInfo 0000001146 00000 n <00> 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. We don't know what size the line is behind the meters or how they have them hooked up. You should review this situation with your engineers. <00A0> 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. 3 The Blue ater Contract defines a "LUE" as the capacity necessary to serve a single-family residential . Q: We are revising our tariff. We want to be fair, but we also want be responsible. endobj It is up to each customer to determine whether they must register as a business with the state or not. 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. Institutional 4. <7F> <7F> <2022> A4INih9'uC0\!a;OKx[TJ2 7Kie Most of these systems have had positive comments about the dependability of these newer types of meters, and some reported only a 5 percent re-read when the meters were originally installed (this percentage typically went down as they got the bugs worked out). <9B> <9B> <203A> 0000006249 00000 n One ESFC is defined as equaling a typical detached single-family house. IN ADDITION - sos.texas.gov You could also require the applicant to provide this information as part of the application process. It is not cost effective for us to run a six inch line extension just to supply water to one new house. <91> <92> <2018> An LUE is assumed to represent 3.5 people living in a residence. First, the customer must supply the system a final plat showing the intended use and ultimate development of the property to be served. /CMapName /CourierOPBaseFont1 def There may be limitations that prevent using the meter when there is an outside water ban or other drought measures are in place. The result is an estimate of total 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. As a general rule, the only difference should be in base rates based on size of meter as indicated in the TRWA Sample Tariff. There are many different types and uses of wells. <8E> <8E> <017D> 71 0 obj<>stream What a system considers to be reasonable access may vary. endbfrange 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. For Tract 2, the engineer assumed 24 equivalent single family connections, and a meter connection count will be four. There is no requirement where a WSC can request the landowner to be registered as a business. U0!_bU2S'vB9{h7UM;y>F]6]>_]I;j]R_}I/l 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. 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. endcmap <8D> <8D> <2022> 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. Where is the middle ground here? 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. Then, once the system reaches 100 percent capacity, that system should begin constructing these new facilities to replace or build that extra 15 percent or more back into their system for future growth. 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. ]BA Y,bps`>x/@HnqXNZ1yek5Fq8:^bV_W =.*'&0Y5E4oUpcbT6P,SkV/ lliF7LEM]AgDtC,a]oaF![Oi0 qy}>XPN&:VYCp>F0 " 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. 0000000536 00000 n The one meter per residence just means that a customer can't have two or more residences or businesses on a single meter. Section 290.45 - Minimum Water System Capacity Requirements, 30 Tex 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. <8A> <8A> <0160> Turn off all valves connected to the distribution system so that no water leaves the tank during test period. A: New meters are supposed to be calibrated and ready to use when shipped to systems. begincmap A new membership fee should be required for each new meter. <8E> <8E> <017D> Going back to my earlier example, if a current customer wanted a new meter placed at the end of a road a 1/2 mile past the end of the existing water line, that new customer should pay their costs for extending that line and not have that cost be paid for by the rest of the members. 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. A standard single-family home is considered a standard ERU with other uses measured against this baseline. 339 0 obj <> endobj 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. In addition to the cost of the meter installation as well as any upfront impact or buy in fees. <91> <92> <2018> %%EOF Even a temporary hose hook-up is prohibited since that is a violation of the conditions found in your customer service application and agreement. <00> <00> <0000> 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. Google Map, Tel: 512.472.8591 <8C> <8C> <0152> A: This is an issue weve been talking to TCEQ about as far back as 2004. PDF Water System Service Capacity in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) Texas Water Code Sec. The result is an estimate of total 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. 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. 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. endcodespacerange 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. By doing this, when they get a few more meters, they can begin replacing the meter tops with these newer AMI tops. << Q: A member of our WSC has two water meters on his property. HT <85> <85> <2026> 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. 5' 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. A: This is commendable for a system member to agree to read all the meters for your system at no cost. (7#~mz*B TwIewVq_kgcQyQ4Jd/ K3E\_%9=G$#. 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. 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. Published in July/August 2020 (Issue 4 of Quench). :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 Do we have to provide water to the new meter on this line? CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop This has been a troublesome situation for many systems in the past and is a re-occurring problem for systems today. both the commission's central office, located at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building C, 1st Floor, Austin, Texas 78753, (512) 239-2545 and at the applicable regional office listed as follows. Would this person also have access to the system office or have keys to the water plants? 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. 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. The most immediate issue to address is the potential health hazard caused by the loss of pressure when the booster pump kicks on. << The valve shall meet AWWA standards (a ball valve is preferred). <88> <88> <02C6> Ask Larry Archives: Metering and One Meter per Residence Rules - TRWA <82> <82> <201A> /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> <8F> <8F> <2022> 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. Afo/.# G(omQb#\9 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? <85> <85> <2026> 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 rules provide some ways for the applicant to opt out of individual meters and having multiple water service lines crisscrossing their tract of land. 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. 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. The NSF 61 is the standard for all pipes, repair clamps, and any other fitting or material used in a public water system. Your tariff should include the requirements for evaluating an application for a master meter. ]*U}%GikLf!=ZpcC[RqHL <82> <82> <201A> Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? endstream endobj 79 0 obj[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] endobj 80 0 obj<>/Width 2550/Height 3300/BitsPerComponent 1/ColorSpace/DeviceGray/Type/XObject/Name/background_1/Subtype/Image>>stream Ask Larry Archives: Metering and One Meter per Residence Rules. /CIDSystemInfo Q: One of our members has offered to read meters each month for free. Water Wells | Texas Groundwater Protection Committee Until Saturday there was a higher level called "very high-risk area where there is a variant of concern" but that category . Setting the meter on the property owned by the applicant is always the best policy. 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. 0000003802 00000 n <95> <95> <2022> The sample tariff allows the system to estimate a bill and notify the member of the estimate if meter access is hindered or denied. 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. <002D> <9E> <9E> <017E> Problems also come about if a leak occurs by some accident or digging operation by the front property owner and the back property owner wants them to pay for damages, or have the system discount their water bill because they didnt know they had a leak. "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 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. X1'H`7g3a*|f{h00eiF` BVb`+c0 z^ H_w"'i.wF%P)O <9C> <9C> <0153> Texas Administrative Code A: This is a common problem for older systems as they try to come into compliance with newer rules. PDF Control Number: 51166 - Texas 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. 69 0 obj<> endobj A: Your question is very common for all rural and some urban systems. <09> <0A> <0009> Would a hose running across the potential users property, across the alleyway, and across about 10 feet of the members property be allowed? <00AE> The assumed population equivalent per connection should be indicated. developed and used to calculate the Impact Fee per Equivalent Single Family Connection (ESFC). Until they can do that, they dont get a meter. /Supplement 0 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. 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/. 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? <81> <81> <2022> This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. <8A> <8A> <0160> He has offered to buy a ladder, but does not want it left all the time, only when the meter is read. PDF Equivalent Residential Unit Factors - Broward County, Florida Different growth 0000000015 00000 n 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. One of these meters is on a 1"water main line and the other meter on a 1 1/2 water main line. D/^&H My question is what is considered access? <84> <84> <201E> 0000001032 00000 n While it may be difficult for them to claim the second dwelling is vacant if evidence of habitation is obvious, some people might try to claim that the habitation is only intermittent, that no water is being used at the second location, or that water there is being supplied from a separate source. <88> <88> <02C6> %%EOF <84> <84> <201E> It is unclear whether the units are part of any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs for low-income residents. IQ-EQ | LinkedIn PDF Water System Service Capacity in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) <002D> 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. 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 several members who have second living residences at their home, but only one meter. <98> <98> <02DC> From this, they can develop a plan that best provides service to the entire development considering the wishes of the developer and the system. Now the member wants the water meter moved to a different property about 100 yards from its original location. The Commercial facilities are calculated by an Equivalent . Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. 362 0 obj The two businesses had been in a partnership in the past under one roof. (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> Master District that constitutes an Equivalent Single Family Connection, which amount may be changed from time to time. The regulations of the Public Utility Commission also make clear in Section 24.163(a)(2)(A) & (B)that the system is responsible to furnish and install, for the purpose of connecting its distribution system to the service applicants property, the service pipe from its main to the meter on the service applicants property. Ownership of meters by the retail public utility, whether a district, WSC, city or privately owned system, is essential to the ability of the utility to effectively comply with its regulatory obligations. 36 beginbfrange <8E> <8E> <017D> 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. {Y 9w,r, 6Q@4Og)nF9c"|A""?__ovt^o_dM`L2,s54#Pj0 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. <20> <7E> <0020> There should be a calibration or certification of accuracy with the new meter. 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. Q: Some of our customers have built duplexes in our system. startxref %%EOF <09> <0A> <0009> 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. First, the one meter per residence language should be part of your tariff or service policy. Statewide Photo Campaign Promoting Drought Awareness Launches August 5! /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin <95> <95> <2022> 0000001107 00000 n 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. At the time of this Agreement, an ESFC of wastewater means 315 gallons per day of water and an ESFC of water means 400 gallons per day of water. 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. <>/OutputIntents[358 0 R]/Metadata 360 0 R>> trailer Leakage 8. Additionally, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules require that all public water systems be designed with a minimum of 15 percent extra capacity. Installing multiple meters on a single undivided property with a line running across the property could lead to easement issues in the future. fA=~0xO}wASICHzKnp[o endbfrange Language establishing the utilitys ownership of customer service meters runs throughout TRWAs model tariffs and service policies. $`pi%X. Big problems can occur when either of the properties changes hands. 362 13 Box 13087, 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. 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?