Additionally, many systems didnt want to maintain extended meters and lines within the private property, because in several cases working on these lines proved too intrusive on peoples private property and roads. 0000001086 00000 n CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop <8A> <8A> <0160> <00> <00> <0000> Chapter 13.07 WATER AND WASTEWATER ASSESSMENTS, RATES, FEES AND CHARGES <9C> <9C> <0153> Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. <8B> <8B> <2039> endstream endobj 70 0 obj<> endobj 72 0 obj<> endobj 73 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 74 0 obj<>stream 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. 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. <9A> <9A> <0161> <00A0> \\~;XBM?!GIjM_% ]$N6+ A;#-^V_J_K_Z!m?oW16d pzpDu@N_D}v54}aM,7=?9?rIh:O7U`BVM[np`&6+mC-Ot6)Rz 6+VM?mHAMA5i }l& CONTACT 1002 Washington Ave., 3rd floor Houston, TX 77002 832.394.8888 wcrtechs@houstontx.gov 8 am to 3 pm Wastewater Capacity Reservation Letter - Wastewater You, the property owner or authorized agent, must apply for a Wastewater Capacity Reservation letter if you are: Wastewater Capacity Reservation Letter - Water (1) The requirements contained in this section are to be used in evaluating both the total capacities for public water systems and the capacities at individual pump stations and pressure planes which serve portions of the system that are hydraulically separated from, or incapable of being served by, other pump stations or pressure planes. pSaU0t}% tAkmBxJ _`TzJjzm*cUxh$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 0000002157 00000 n /Ordering (UCS) Both of these sections clearly state that an owner of the property to be served is the only person qualified to be a WSC member and that the meter has to be installed on the property designated to be served. <81> <81> <2022> <95> <95> <2022> /CMapType 2 def The District is subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the "TCEQ"). The capacity is being used either way, and these new meters and customers are utilizing their share of the systems resources. Our service agreement states that we only allow one dwelling per connection. Published February/March 2021 (Issue 1 of Quench). 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. 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.. A: New meters are supposed to be calibrated and ready to use when shipped to systems. 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. Q: How important is the NSF 60 certification on meters or does it even matter? Then a straight run of pipe at least three times the diameter of the pipe after the meter. <88> <88> <02C6> Master metering is only applicable when it is a single piece of property, not two different tracts. In either case, the utility must ensure that fees are assessed fairly. ~A%b u;_K[O]u?__KVX?p5~5Ka%K}>k47Z=j{u__t Q: One of our members has offered to read meters each month for free. From this, they can develop a plan that best provides service to the entire development considering the wishes of the developer and the system. <9F> <9F> <0178> begincmap 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 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. In order to correct the issue, the system must first have supporting language in its 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. <82> <82> <201A> Afo/.# G(omQb#\9 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. 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. We have been mostly going by the word of individual landowners, which has recently resulted in us finding out that some of our meters were not correctly located. )-__@u{{z"|RDQG|G2`4Y M6 oaomo[^W[zWJ+wCV <8F> <8F> <2022> The ERUs would be equivalent to what would be used by typical single-family residences, if they were using the water. This is referred to in Section C under the definition of member and proof of ownership, and again in Section E under Rules and Regulations. 1 begincodespacerange 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. endobj 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. One of these meters is on a 1"water main line and the other meter on a 1 1/2 water main line. /Ordering (UCS) The customer says there is a gate at the back of his property (more than 500 feet away). 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. 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. First, the customer must supply the system a final plat showing the intended use and ultimate development of the property to be served. w;A`@3YceL 0a0DD8T#_ _~qd"D|%U0 a`q]HEWls!G29h4 <9F> <9F> <0178> It is not cost effective for us to run a six inch line extension just to supply water to one new house. Other possible solutions the system may suggest to the customer are: move the fence back so the meter is outside the fence; install a separate gate at the location of the meter; or provide a key or code so the meter reader or repair crew can access the water line and meter 24/7. There is no requirement where a WSC can request the landowner to be registered as a business. CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop 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 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. 0000053091 00000 n Q: Our system is replacing all of our meters. It is up to each customer to determine whether they must register as a business with the state or not. 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. 71 0 obj<>stream Do you have a source for best practices when planning to deal with this issue? 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. <8B> <8B> <2039> %%EOF <8E> <8E> <017D> Systems generally dont want to extend their liability onto or across private property to read meters or make repairs after dark within a private property on the off chance that frequent trips onto that property raises the chance of some type of accident or damage to the owners property or tenants. Q: What is the purpose of the restriction on multiple connections to a single tap rule? Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. However, TCEQs 2019 guidance on determining the number of connections served by public water systems defines active connection to include any connection that has the capacity to receive water, even if there is no customer currently receiving water service there. Public wells supply drinking water to municipalities. <0D> <0D> <000D> Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. 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. A 6 inch line, according to the TCEQ Chapter 290 Rules, can serve up to 250 connections. Language establishing the utilitys ownership of customer service meters runs throughout TRWAs model tariffs and service policies. 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. 1 year ago. <8E> <8E> <017D> 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. 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. A: This is definitely not a new question - many systems have faced this situation over the years. Texas Administrative Code - Secretary of State of Texas $`pi%X. Q: How does a person with multiple mobile homes become a master-metered account? This standard specifies that all chemicals used properly will not cause any health effects for the consumers. =4$y]/%(%DL 0000000015 00000 n A: This is a common question. Billable flow (B 1 + B 5) 7. I have also seen frustration when the front property owner requests a second meter from the system and the line is at capacity. The member wants to know if a neighbor can hook up to the meter and if so, under what circumstances. Now climb the tank again after the well pump is stopped and measure the height of water again at the manway. 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. Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? If the customer still feels that the meter belongs to her then it may be helpful to give her the phone number to the PUC so she can discuss her concerns. endcodespacerange <90> <90> <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. 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. <9E> <9E> <017E> "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. 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. "General Plan" means the General Plan prepared by Developer as submitted to 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. <80> <80> <20AC> This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. <20> <7E> <0020> If the main water line(s) are near the public roads, then the system may offer to move the meter down to the road. Where is the middle ground here? The defined area is depicted in Appendix 1. Present Ave. Daily Flow (B 6 + B 7 ) Single family - include all single family homes, mobile homes and seasonal dwellings in this category. <9A> <9A> <0161> We want to be fair, but we also want be responsible. <9B> <9B> <203A> <002D> 69 0 obj<> endobj 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? A licensed operator of a water system can calibrate their own master meters regardless of size or type by using the volumetric calibration method. 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. After you establish a system's ERU quantity, you can use it to determine the number of ERUs for other types of service connections.
