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. Fax: 512.472.5186 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. What should we do? <9C> <9C> <0153> The defined area is depicted in Appendix 1. 0000000825 00000 n Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. The quadplexes were built in 2006 and are not located within the boundaries of a city. 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. Total non -residential 6. 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. 6^u9Z{s DraDsio1,m?Ph/&KZlho_ryP 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. There are many points that need to be addressed before agreeing to this offer. <84> <84> <201E> Think of it this way: what if that property owner was requesting not one meter, but four new ones? The system is not responsible for securing or requiring an easement for any service line from the meter to the ultimate customers home. /Registry (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) <00AE> 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. Texas Administrative Code <8C> <8C> <0152> 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. 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. For water requirements, this includes consumptive uses, such as lawn Where to Live in the Netherlands | Expatica Netherlands There should be a calibration or certification of accuracy with the new meter. Sometimes multiple lines from multiple meters can become a maintenance nightmare because all the lines, meters and valves look the same. 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. 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. 0 Our service agreement states that we only allow one dwelling per connection. These references clearly state that the meter belongs to the corporation and is to be maintained by the corporation. 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. This only works for meter reading and does not solve the issue of access for repairs and emergencies. One of these meters is on a 1"water main line and the other meter on a 1 1/2 water main line. <8E> <8E> <017D> %%EOF 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 endstream endobj 1 0 obj<> endobj 2 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 3 0 obj<>stream 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 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. 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. Do they have to register as a business with the state or get a water commercial permit? We don't know what size the line is behind the meters or how they have them hooked up. 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. {Y 9w,r, 6Q@4Og)nF9c"|A""?__ovt^o_dM`L2,s54#Pj0 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. Customers that do not report multiple connections, causing utility employees to have to investigate the matter, are usually denied these waivers. 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. <85> <85> <2026> PDF Rayford Road Municipal Utility District 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. Additionally, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules require that all public water systems be designed with a minimum of 15 percent extra capacity. Some systems do require individual meters to each different apartment, condo or other type business that is all owned by one individual or company. endcmap A: Yes, I've heard of the practice of allowing multiple meters on single properties at multiple systems. Hopefully this will help address the customers concerns. The WSC board can amend the water rates at any board meeting where rate adjustments are posted as an agenda item for action. 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.. end First, the customer must supply the system a final plat showing the intended use and ultimate development of the property to be served. 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. <8D> <8D> <2022> endcodespacerange Section 290.45 - Minimum Water System Capacity Requirements, 30 Tex Q. 362 0 obj It is up to each customer to determine whether they must register as a business with the state or not. Hopefully the two figures are the same or within a reasonable margin of error. Amstelveen is a leafy, prosperous, family-oriented suburb close to Amsterdam, which has a growing population of international residents. R02 - Single Family House (larger than 5/8 " meter). 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. The sample tariff allows the system to estimate a bill and notify the member of the estimate if meter access is hindered or denied. A: The answer is yes, its not only ethical, its also both fair and necessary. Published in January/February 2020 (Issue 1 of Quench). a@0VZ F8A8!@!af^""""#o^?l2AD 4i5M=n^/#{B^m^m}5ok8M4M0P aj""# These existing capacity components were and are being paid for through monthly water rates. 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. <8C> <8C> <0152> xb```a``Jc`f`ed@ Ar,8-O00/2\B;wOg`Xl_SKl}w>5">%QPH2F50e00,c 5RJf5v zn ' +\AF> <80> <80> <20AC> /CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin A new membership fee should be required for each new meter. All new customers or applicants for water service use some of the systems existing facilities and capacity that was already in place things like pipe lines, tanks, wells, pumps and so on. This allows the water to straighten out and have less turbulence, thereby allowing the meter to register as accurately as possible. 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. If so, that is another major concern for liability should he interpret this agreement to read the meters as having free reign to the systems facilities. A 6 inch line, according to the TCEQ Chapter 290 Rules, can serve up to 250 connections. 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. 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. For customers who have their homes 500 feet or more off the road, meters may be relocated to the edge of the customers property instead of at the house. Q: One of our members has offered to read meters each month for free. #9: "We're already listed as very high risk. In the event that the placement ends up being wrong, the PUC would likely side with the owner in a dispute about relocation costs because they would see it as the utility shirking its responsibility to exercise due diligence when it set the meter in the wrong location in the first place. There is also a concern about whether your easement allows system personnel to traverse 500 feet of the owners property. What should we do with these boxes? Development Agreement Between the City of Missouri City, Texas, and <8D> <8D> <2022> Q: A member of our WSC has two water meters on his property. \"L&h6AKm5 ZydZ P*dGLr)9 3 <95> <95> <2022> Equivalent Residential Connection Definition | Law Insider <86> <87> <2020> /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> developed and used to calculate the Impact Fee per Equivalent Single Family Connection (ESFC). Accordingly, at Section 24.169(a)(2) of the PUCs rules, the Commission unequivocally states that unless otherwise ordered by the commission, each utility shall provide, install, own and maintain all meters necessary for the measurement of water provided to its customers.. A: This is a common question. 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? The customer says there is a gate at the back of his property (more than 500 feet away). endstream endobj 70 0 obj<> endobj 72 0 obj<> endobj 73 0 obj<>/XObject<>/ProcSet 79 0 R>> endobj 74 0 obj<>stream <81> <81> <2022> <9D> <9D> <2022> Should not effect transit. <09> <0A> <0009> Some engineers and systems took this to mean that if we remove the meters at these dormant locations, the system would not have to charge future new customers the price for upgrading their old water mains until the freed-up capacity was allocated to new active connections. A: This is commendable for a system member to agree to read all the meters for your system at no cost. Given more information about your utility we may have suggestions regarding ideas on sharing the cost of any upgrade. <09> <0A> <0009> <002D> :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 What can we do if the owner of the membership denies that someone is living at the second residence? PDF Water System Service Capacity in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) You could also require the applicant to provide this information as part of the application process. -tjOXWIR-9L#|qAH)=ya[AXO>_u 9U]](M:?`^V a/X`jsV60;aC}18Y_{/c%nmVlf.0FVL %PDF-1.5 % The result is an estimate of total g MLu]VxcN[4wosYpe$C4-`#`:euD=G)\IGiuu}o\2kr%Scw#LBSkEkG=] i"a8S7EB=w=N 0000002966 00000 n <98> <98> <02DC> 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. Q: Our system has been asked to serve two quadplexes that were until recently supplied by wells that no longer produce water. Q: What can you tell me about the new "electronic read" meters on the market today? Over the past year Ive talked to at least a dozen systems with existing AMR meters who are upgrading or replacing them due to older meter batteries not holding up. ~A%b u;_K[O]u?__KVX?p5~5Ka%K}>k47Z=j{u__t 1 begincodespacerange All the meters or at least the material data sheets should state that the materials used to manufacture the meters meet NSF 61. In order to correct the issue, the system must first have supporting language in its tariff. xc```a``A2@\(}drBf Under 30 TAC 290.38(16), "connection" means "A single-family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied" from the PWS. Other TCEQ inspectors have assessed the capacity requirements on the 2-inch meter size which industry standards deem to be eight times the normal capacity of the 5/8 x 3/4-inch meter, regardless of the number of trailers on the other side of the meter. <00> <00> <0000> With this person not being an employee or contractor, exactly what leverage does the system use to require the meter readings to be delivered on time and accurately? Q: What is the purpose of the restriction on multiple connections to a single tap rule? The inspector would also check for chlorine residuals at any location which the customer says is being supplied water from a private well or other source. for the single-family residential customer group. What options do we have to address this issue? Payment of these fees are reimbursable if and when the District sells Bonds for that purpose and the TCEQ . CMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop Q: I am aware of the rule that requires meters to be located on the property being served. How do we determine base rates for 2- or 3-inch meters? We have several customers who have gates at the back of their homes and their homes are built at least 500 feet off the road. endbfrange 0000002157 00000 n In either case, the utility must ensure that fees are assessed fairly. 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. It doesnt matter whether the extra capacity is used to supply brand new customers who have never had service or to existing customers seeking an additional meter. Q: We have a convenience store and a chain restaurant using the same meter. B. Multi-Family Residential A twelve-inch (12") water main shall be required to loop through a multi-family district. 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. <9A> <9A> <0161> Now climb the tank again after the well pump is stopped and measure the height of water again at the manway. All connections shall be calculated based upon its equivalency to a customary Equivalent Single Family Connection using the City of Houston's equivalency table. These items became assets and therefore had to be maintained and upgraded at the expense of the water system. <]/Info 87 0 R/Prev 844706 >> Texas Administrative Code - Secretary of State of Texas /Ordering (UCS) 0000036396 00000 n 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. 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. PDF LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENT (LUE) GUIDANCE DOCUMENT - Austin, Texas Know how, know you | We are IQ-EQ, a leading investor services group employing 4300+ people across 24 jurisdictions worldwide. 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? 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. 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. 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. TCEQs Chapter 290 requires a meter to accurately determine the usage of each customer unless a master metering arrangement has been made. The two businesses had been in a partnership in the past under one roof. endstream endobj 4 0 obj<>stream This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. hbbd``b`+A| "[@@ebX H0X "$k $BG HI (,HW *##6F0 w Again, this is an insurance issue to address with your insurance carrier. <9F> <9F> <0178> <88> <88> <02C6> 0000001107 00000 n We bring together that rare . 363 0 obj 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. <00> US travelers connecting in AMS what are the rules now? <9E> <9E> <017E> ESFCequivalent single-family connection. Getting customers to understand is sometimes challenging. 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. The member knows that resale of the water for a profit is not allowed. <80> <80> <20AC> One of our customers is demanding that she keep her meter since she paid for it and she feels it should be hers to keep. u5e` T :SYA"e2=pmn':"^Ptvop?L`EekP)H:^OK)XNI <82> <82> <201A> begincmap Setting the meter on the property owned by the applicant is always the best policy. endstream endobj 340 0 obj <. Published in May/June 2020 (Issue 3 of Quench). 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. The one meter per residence just means that a customer can't have two or more residences or businesses on a single meter. 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. (16) Connection--A single family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied from the system. endcmap <9B> <9B> <203A> <83> <83> <0192> You should review this situation with your engineers. 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. One of the main reasons for a turbine or propeller master meter to register incorrectly is improper piping configurations from the well to and past the meter location. 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. <00AE> In addition to the cost of the meter installation as well as any upfront impact or buy in fees. /Ordering (UCS) TRWA does not recommend any product, supplier or person and leaves that decision up to each system. Would a hose running across the potential users property, across the alleyway, and across about 10 feet of the members property be allowed? Examples of Equivalent Residential Connection in a sentence. (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 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. IN ADDITION - sos.texas.gov 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. end <8A> <8A> <0160> IQ-EQ | 110,749 followers on LinkedIn. )-__@u{{z"|RDQG|G2`4Y M6 oaomo[^W[zWJ+wCV Re: US travelers connecting in AMS what are the rules now? What a system considers to be reasonable access may vary. <99> <99> <2122> <88> <88> <02C6> 0000006201 00000 n Ask Larry Archives: Metering and One Meter per Residence Rules - TRWA 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? If not, then the system could be charged with trespassing. 0000053091 00000 n <86> <87> <2020> Some systems opt to offer discounts to customers that have multiple connections or to waive impact or other front-end capital improvement fees. The base rates for larger meters should be set to pay for these larger required capacities instead of making the customers with standard size meters subsidize the customers with bigger meters that place more demand costs on the system. 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. 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. 36 beginbfrange 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). 36 beginbfrange Where is the middle ground here? <96> <97> <2013> /CMapType 2 def \8h;""-[a]_aM7#0dpq6;tDdX)A!BuU ]H#Fjf )aAC;D 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. <00AE> /CIDSystemInfo |pz~0u]MbHw{B|%r4ln'Ur]af2Ia0 fkF0S;@G bYH(?I Q: How does a person with multiple mobile homes become a master-metered account? <91> <92> <2018> 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? /Supplement 0 Id like to offer an observation though, based on the information from the TRWA Sample Tariff. <00> 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. 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. Most manufacturers suggest straight runs of pipe ahead of and following a master meter. 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. PDF Water System Service Capacity in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) 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.
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