tceq equivalent single family connection tceq equivalent single family connection

Use some water out of the storage tank (ground or elevated). 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 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. 0000000825 00000 n For Tract 2, the engineer assumed 24 equivalent single family connections, and a meter connection count will be four. <00AE> 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. 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. $`pi%X. 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. 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. <002D> Therefore, removing the meter box completely could allow the utility to reduce its total number of connections for purposes of determining the systems necessary capacity. How should this be handled? 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. 365 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<826B791C035DF141B5FC102546D7A1A5>]/Index[339 51]/Info 338 0 R/Length 113/Prev 168287/Root 340 0 R/Size 390/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream This is the back property customers responsibility. 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. Public wells supply drinking water to municipalities. s)Q0tWN What can we do if the owner of the membership denies that someone is living at the second residence? Now subtract the first master meter reading from the current meter reading and compare that to the gallons added to the tank. Wouldnt it make sense for the owner to have to pay the cost of extending the line(s) out to those structures? 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. A: This is one of those situations where a little extra effort by the system up front can save them substantial headaches and costs down the road. A: This is a common question. Published in January/February 2020 (Issue 1 of Quench). endbfrange 0 A: This is a common problem for older systems as they try to come into compliance with newer rules. 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. end The larger the meter, the greater the amount of system capacity that must be kept in place for that meter. 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. Language establishing the utilitys ownership of customer service meters runs throughout TRWAs model tariffs and service policies. ~A%b u;_K[O]u?__KVX?p5~5Ka%K}>k47Z=j{u__t There is an automatic gate that only works by remote and we do not have access to it. These items became assets and therefore had to be maintained and upgraded at the expense of the water system. The WSC board can amend the water rates at any board meeting where rate adjustments are posted as an agenda item for action. endbfrange ]BA Y,bps`>x/@HnqXNZ1yek5Fq8:^bV_W =.*'&0Y5E4oUpcbT6P,SkV/ lliF7LEM]AgDtC,a]oaF![Oi0 qy}>XPN&:VYCp>F0 " You should always keep the safety of your employees in mind and act within the law. 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. Private or domestic wells can be used for a variety purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and industrial uses. A4INih9'uC0\!a;OKx[TJ2 7Kie TRWA does not recommend any product, supplier or person and leaves that decision up to each system. The ERUs would be equivalent to what would be used by typical single-family residences, if they were using the water. Q: I am going to change out our master meter at the well and replace it with a new one. 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. 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. Then a straight run of pipe at least three times the diameter of the pipe after the meter. (2) Active connection, as used in this section, means a lot or . Q: We have a convenience store and a chain restaurant using the same meter. A reason for rate training is so the board can justify the base and gallonage charges to all ratepayer classifications and also to TCEQ in case the rate is appealed. 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. There is also a concern about whether your easement allows system personnel to traverse 500 feet of the owners property. 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. endcmap If they want service at a new location, they must purchase another membership and meter tap, and comply with all the new service application procedures. 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. Not all the time, but it is usually pretty accurate unless another deed or court decree has been issued since the countys records were last updated. Q: Some of our customers have built duplexes in our system. You could also require the applicant to provide this information as part of the application process. 363 0 obj 3 The Blue ater Contract defines a "LUE" as the capacity necessary to serve a single-family residential . 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. Many times, a customer has a shut off valve installed to the second residence that can be turned off for plumbing repairs or when inspections like these are to be conducted. \\~;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& Installing multiple meters on a single undivided property with a line running across the property could lead to easement issues in the future. Then when these other services are discontinued those meters are removed by the utility that owns the meters, not the customer. 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 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. Climb the tank and use a steel measuring tape to measure the height of water in the tank to the manway. described above, SWWC currently supplies water to at least 5,465 active LUEs (i.e., single-2 Living Unit Equivalents (LUEs). /Linearized 1.0/O 364/H [ 766 341 ]/L 852074/E 53543/N 18/T 844716>> <90> <90> <2022> /CMapType 2 def 0000001247 00000 n <9B> <9B> <203A> Due to an expansion, the two split and are now serviced by the same meter. This eliminates the need for a system to conduct manual drive-bys and allows all meters to be read from the whole system in a matter of minutes from the office. 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. for the single-family residential customer group. <86> <87> <2020> Q: Our system is replacing all of our meters. Would the individual use the company vehicle or his own? /Registry (Times-RomanOPBaseFont0) A 6 inch line, according to the TCEQ Chapter 290 Rules, can serve up to 250 connections. <84> <84> <201E> <00> <00> <0000> lmr19a9s;rw;A$PsI@mr+9pB? If a member purchases land other than where the original meter was installed, according to the TRWA Sample Tariff language, they have to transfer the membership to the new property owner and leave the meter in place. The result is an estimate of total <9B> <9B> <203A> There are many points that need to be addressed before agreeing to this offer. You should start by notifying these customers that you have observed people living at these residences and cite them to the relevant TCEQ rules and provisions of your service agreement relating to having only one residence per connection. <9F> <9F> <0178> If your system refunds memberships then the original member should get their membership back and the new property owner should pay for a new membership. By doing this, when they get a few more meters, they can begin replacing the meter tops with these newer AMI tops. >> def Yu%]OV^jhzUKI51*&;?m'{{~aTV%jkC PM 5#: 5$Gn ma0Mg]q}ZjBT8!t0#HD4"?@taAhDDDDDDDDDD~""""""?YY#ldd#3334k$WT M&=R Therefore, existing customers have been paying for extra capacity for many years and these new customers are being asked to provide a portion of the cost associated with the capacity they will be using. An LUE is assumed to represent 3.5 people living in a residence. <00AE> Industrial 3. 0000003802 00000 n What a system considers to be reasonable access may vary. 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 12 dict begin %OEG+HqH\9-:Y2=Ht),h1#d W% `9B-eR+0 H|T0WQNd(>3IQb= 362 0 obj endstream endobj 5 0 obj<>/Width 2550/Height 3300/BitsPerComponent 1/ColorSpace/DeviceGray/Type/XObject/Name/background_2/Subtype/Image>>stream 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. 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. 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. /Supplement 0 Duplexes and triplexes are sufficiently similar to single family homes so that a duplex equals twice the ERU . This has an added benefit that the customers will be required to maintain their own service lines from the meter to their houses. This letter should outline the PUC requirements for an accurate metering of water per connection. 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.. Well get someone to demonstrate the rate template weve designed and provided to systems across the state. 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. Now the member wants the water meter moved to a different property about 100 yards from its original location. C+vdt\?K(Pwu,Gu-=s-^|8o!$cntc}Egg=/ckY0 \ Your tariff should include the requirements for evaluating an application for a master meter. The inspector may also require the customer to demonstrate or show how water pipes at the secondary home are independent of the piping serving the customers primary residence. <8C> <8C> <0152> <91> <92> <2018> Where is the middle ground here? A: You have a couple different issues to address. <88> <88> <02C6> The main billing consideration is normally that meters for irrigation purposes only are typically not charged a sewer bill and if your system provides sewer service this could reduce the overall revenue if enough of these meters are installed. Should not effect transit. There is no requirement where a WSC can request the landowner to be registered as a business. 0000036396 00000 n 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. * 04dOvZ% y;a p^u N&?FqCe6MoA <9D> <9D> <2022> 4Ct?3,RPapG}=>V"vIzJ*m'_ end Do you have a source for best practices when planning to deal with this issue? 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. <96> <97> <2013> <00> endobj -tjOXWIR-9L#|qAH)=ya[AXO>_u 9U]](M:?`^V a/X`jsV60;aC}18Y_{/c%nmVlf.0FVL 0 {e9Q $b@;l0$" <00A0> <9D> <9D> <2022> I have also seen frustration when the front property owner requests a second meter from the system and the line is at capacity. 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. B. Multi-Family Residential A twelve-inch (12") water main shall be required to loop through a multi-family district. 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. 36 beginbfrange A: This is certainly a tricky situation but its one that many TRWA systems have faced when trying to enforce their tariff or district service policies. Q: We have been made aware of a customer who has installed an inline booster pump on their side of the meter. fA=~0xO}wASICHzKnp[o begincmap As an example, the number of service connections in an apartment complex would be equal to the number of individual apartment units. 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: What can you tell me about the new "electronic read" meters on the market today? 0000000015 00000 n <9C> <9C> <0153> If your utility is a political subdivision and you do not have a certificate of convenience and necessity, your obligation and requirements are dictated by other state statutes. 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? 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. Based on my experience, a great number of systems opt to have a single meter properly sized to meet the service needs requested by the owner instead of having multiple smaller master meters or even individual meters for each apartment.