Then when these other services are discontinued those meters are removed by the utility that owns the meters, not the customer. 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. I am not aware of any cost of service appeals dealing with this issue specifically, but systems should be aware that the PUCT might side with the customer if someone complains about being charged new fees to obtain service at a location where service previously existed. 1 begincodespacerange 0 <00> H_w"'i.wF%P)O The sample tariff allows the system to estimate a bill and notify the member of the estimate if meter access is hindered or denied. An LUE is assumed to represent 3.5 people living in a residence. 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. 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? \8h;""-[a]_aM7#0dpq6;tDdX)A!BuU ]H#Fjf )aAC;D 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. Use some water out of the storage tank (ground or elevated). << Climb the tank and use a steel measuring tape to measure the height of water in the tank to the manway. TRWA recommends that systems stop floating memberships and meters from one property to another because of the confusion it creates. Others were due to leaks grounding out meters. You could also require the applicant to provide this information as part of the application process. 71 0 obj<>stream HT 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. Afo/.# G(omQb#\9 A: Yes, I've heard of the practice of allowing multiple meters on single properties at multiple systems. It is not cost effective for us to run a six inch line extension just to supply water to one new house. A licensed operator of a water system can calibrate their own master meters regardless of size or type by using the volumetric calibration method. 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. Some systems opt to offer discounts to customers that have multiple connections or to waive impact or other front-end capital improvement fees. /CMapType 2 def 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. <95> <95> <2022> Q: Our system is replacing all of our meters. A: We get this question from time to time, and the answer as to whether you should have one master meter for each apartment building or one meter per individual apartment is it depends. In general, the Public Utility Commissions (PUC) rules first want separate meters for each unit so each individual users water usage can be measured accurately. endstream endobj 5 0 obj<>/Width 2550/Height 3300/BitsPerComponent 1/ColorSpace/DeviceGray/Type/XObject/Name/background_2/Subtype/Image>>stream Back in 2004, TRWA staff met with TCEQ to discuss several issues relating to their capacity regulations and interpretations. A: The answer is yes, its not only ethical, its also both fair and necessary. D/^&H a@0VZ F8A8!@!af^""""#o^?l2AD 4i5M=n^/#{B^m^m}5ok8M4M0P aj""# Where to live in Delft Wedged between The Hague and Rotterdam, Delft is a beautiful historical town that attracts those seeking a quieter lifestyle with good city connections. /Ordering (UCS) fA=~0xO}wASICHzKnp[o <9B> <9B> <203A> <9C> <9C> <0153> 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. 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. Duplexes and triplexes are sufficiently similar to single family homes so that a duplex equals twice the ERU . <00> endstream endobj 1 0 obj<> endobj 2 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 3 0 obj<>stream 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. Is this legal or what problems could this create? 5' 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. 9CT Institutional 4. Most manufacturers suggest straight runs of pipe ahead of and following a master meter. As an example, the number of service connections in an apartment complex would be equal to the number of individual apartment units. For example, the Service Rules and Regulations of the TRWA Sample Tariff, Section E, states: An apartment building, condominium, manufactured housing (modular, mobile or RV) community, business center or other similar type enterprise may be considered by the Corporation to be a single commercial facility if the owner applies for a meter as a 'master metered account' and complies with the requirements set forth in PUC rules, this Tariff and applicable law. TRWAs Sample Tariff, Section B provides additional detail, requiring compliance with PUC, Chapter 24, Subchapter H rules pertaining to submetering. One requirement under PUC rules is that the owner who intends to bill tenants for sub-metered or allocated utility service or who changes the method used to bill tenants for utility service must register with the PUC in a form prescribed by the commission. Q: Our local WSC is planning to implement a policy in order to comply with the one meter per residence rule. Some systems do require individual meters to each different apartment, condo or other type business that is all owned by one individual or company. <82> <82> <201A> 0000000825 00000 n <93> <94> <201C> Examples of Equivalent Residential Connection in a sentence. 12 dict begin 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? \\~;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& 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. 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. 1616 Rio Grande If the main water line(s) are near the public roads, then the system may offer to move the meter down to the road. Q: Some of our customers have built duplexes in our system. 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. One ESFC is defined as equaling a typical detached single-family house. <002D> for the single-family residential customer group. 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. Q: What is the purpose of the restriction on multiple connections to a single tap rule? During these discussions, we talked about vacant and dormant taps to see how the agency would rule on a cost of service appeal if the system were to remove these dead taps to free up system capacity for other applicants along that water main. B. Multi-Family Residential A twelve-inch (12") water main shall be required to loop through a multi-family district. Master metering is only applicable when it is a single piece of property, not two different tracts. That availability to use that capacity should be paid for, but not by tacking the costs onto existing customers. 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. My question is, how do we verify the boundaries of properties for this purpose? endstream endobj 4 0 obj<>stream Should not effect transit. /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> /CMapType 2 def <00AE> 0000000903 00000 n 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. <86> <87> <2020> The correspondence should also include a date on which service will be disconnected if the customer fails to make arrangements for the CSI. 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. The assumed population equivalent per connection should be indicated. Q: Our 1.5-inch water line is at capacity and someone who is building a home in the area asked to add a meter to our line. begincmap 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. <8A> <8A> <0160> Unless a local governmental authority requires otherwise, or unless otherwise established, an ESFC is defined as 360 gallons per day for average water usage and 300 gpd for average wastewater return flow. The District is subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the "TCEQ"). 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. 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. >> def Q: How does a person with multiple mobile homes become a master-metered account? Would a hose running across the potential users property, across the alleyway, and across about 10 feet of the members property be allowed? Leakage 8. <8F> <8F> <2022> Until Saturday there was a higher level called "very high-risk area where there is a variant of concern" but that category . <8D> <8D> <2022> Do you have a source for best practices when planning to deal with this issue? There are many different types and uses of wells. /Ordering (UCS) <86> <87> <2020> Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? It is unclear whether the units are part of any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs for low-income residents. A new membership fee should be required for each new meter. Installing multiple meters on a single undivided property with a line running across the property could lead to easement issues in the future. <84> <84> <201E> Published in July/August 2020 (Issue 4 of Quench). <85> <85> <2026> Re: US travelers connecting in AMS what are the rules now? Not sure they have a higher level." Yes, his is true but interestingly only since 4 September. 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. Q: We have a convenience store and a chain restaurant using the same meter. Then a straight run of pipe at least three times the diameter of the pipe after the meter. 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. 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. endstream endobj 382 0 obj <>stream /Registry (Helvetica-ObliqueOPBaseFont5) 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. Finally, it is also important to be clear with the applicant regarding how the drought contingency and water rationing requirements apply to the irrigation meter. 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. endbfrange 0000002770 00000 n u5e` T <8B> <8B> <2039> <9A> <9A> <0161> <20> <7E> <0020> Total non -residential 6. /CMapName /CourierOPBaseFont1 def 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? We had the owner submit a feasibility study and it shows that we can support them. 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. A water well is a hole drilled into an aquifer with a pipe, screen, and pump to pull water out of the ground. 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. Do I need to calibrate the meter? 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. * 04dOvZ% y;a p^u N&?FqCe6MoA <7F> <7F> <2022> 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. <99> <99> <2122> /CMapName /Helvetica-ObliqueOPBaseFont5 def This has been a troublesome situation for many systems in the past and is a re-occurring problem for systems today. /Registry (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) The WSC board can amend the water rates at any board meeting where rate adjustments are posted as an agenda item for action. Commercial 5. R02 includes a pool and lawn and landscape irrigation of the lot as long as there is no separate irrigation meter. Different growth 8P_zz[__z-os%DtGDrJb"" )A 0000002157 00000 n 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. <8D> <8D> <2022> Public wells supply drinking water to municipalities. <00> There is nothing that prevents a customer from having a separate meter just for their irrigation system. Next write down the master meter reading on the meter to be tested. developed and used to calculate the Impact Fee per Equivalent Single Family Connection (ESFC). 0000036396 00000 n <8C> <8C> <0152> <84> <84> <201E> We have some meter boxes that do not have a meter as they were either pulled for non-payment or the owner requested them to be removed. %%EOF First, youll want to look at what your tariff and non-standard service agreement state as far as requirements for service and what you have agreed to provide. For water requirements, this includes consumptive uses, such as lawn -tjOXWIR-9L#|qAH)=ya[AXO>_u 9U]](M:?`^V a/X`jsV60;aC}18Y_{/c%nmVlf.0FVL 1 begincodespacerange If a member purchases land other than where the original meter was installed, according to the TRWA Sample Tariff language, they have to transfer the membership to the new property owner and leave the meter in place. If not, then the system could be charged with trespassing. Q: We have been made aware of a customer who has installed an inline booster pump on their side of the meter. /Supplement 0 >> def We think this might turn into a public relations problem. Our service agreement states that we only allow one dwelling per connection. 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. [tF]JJfSHYs8n?G?#ZS^n#E|WHxt2o1BBb.el+Dijwv-7ajcn7mY 6ii>a!0Y7"9ET3 CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop <00> <00> <0000> Any damage to the Corporations equipment shall be subject to service charges. (7#~mz*B TwIewVq_kgcQyQ4Jd/ K3E\_%9=G$#. (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> The system is not responsible for securing or requiring an easement for any service line from the meter to the ultimate customers home. The sample tariff also allows service to be disconnected, after notice, if access is denied for three consecutive months. (16) Connection--A single family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied from the system. <83> <83> <0192> Define Equivalent Single-Family Connection. #9: "We're already listed as very high risk. The result is an estimate of total 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. <80> <80> <20AC> Q: We are revising our tariff. <9D> <9D> <2022> 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. 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. 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. This can be as little as one foot or several feet of water added to the tank. 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. After you establish a system's ERU quantity, you can use it to determine the number of ERUs for other types of service connections. <20> <7E> <0020> 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. A: New meters are supposed to be calibrated and ready to use when shipped to systems. U0!_bU2S'vB9{h7UM;y>F]6]>_]I;j]R_}I/l "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. <88> <88> <02C6> If your board would like for one of TRWAs staff to attend a meeting to do some rate training, please contact our office. Based on the level and manner of service being requested by the owner, a 2-inch water meter may or may not be sufficient to provide the water capacity being requested. 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. <00> <00> <0000> Given more information about your utility we may have suggestions regarding ideas on sharing the cost of any upgrade. 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. The wait times at the transit Schengen passport control might be a bit longer but probably not since the border police seems to be managing staff levels. Now climb the tank again after the well pump is stopped and measure the height of water again at the manway. {Y 9w,r, 6Q@4Og)nF9c"|A""?__ovt^o_dM`L2,s54#Pj0 Fax: 512.472.5186 <90> <90> <2022> /CMapName /Times-RomanOPBaseFont0 def (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. <8B> <8B> <2039> 69 12 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. Save. 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 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. 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. /Ordering (UCS) 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. 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. 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.
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tceq equivalent single family connection