HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.d. Second Meter Water Useage TABLE ONE
One Meter vs. Two Meter Households
SAMPLE-1 Meter Households w/Irrigation Systems(sample of 23)
Percent of Percent Gal Per
Quarter Usage Total Use Above Q1 Household
Q1 265 11% 12
Q2 594 25% 124% 26
Q3 1,102 47% 316% 48
Q4 396 17% 49% 17
2,357 102
2 Meter Households(803)
Percent of Percent Gal Per
Quarter Usage Total Use Above Q1 Household
Q1 11,752 11% 15
Q2 22,625 21% 93% 28
Q3 47,927 45% 308% 60
Q4 23,247 22% 98% 29
105,551 131
All Other 1 Meter Households(5486)
Percent of Percent Gal Per
Quarter Usage Total Use Above Q1 Household
Q1 66,559 17% 12
Q2 89,928 24% 35% 16
Q3 134,838 35% 103% 25
Q4 89,071 23% 34% 16
380,396 69
All Households(6312)
Percent of Percent Gal Per
Quarter Usage Total Use Above 41 Household
Q1 78,576 16% 12
Q2 113,147 23% 44% 18
Q3 183,867 38%u 134% 29
Q4 112,714 23% 43% 18
488,304 77
Note: Actual 2015 usage, all figures in thousands
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The data in T_�BLE ONE suggests the need for a greater conservation effort among all our customers with
irrigauon systems, not just those with a second meter. r,s mentioned in the previous agenda item, these
initiatives may be effective in this specific area of need:
• Distribute targeted educational material to households with irrigation systems (may be difficult to
determine which households)
• Annually mail letters to the top 10% of residential�vater users (appro:�imately 650 households)
comparing their use to the average household
• Include an informational insert with utility bills
• Actively enforce the sprinkling restrictions (including the monetary penalty)
• Enhance the City webpage with new information, and draw attenuon to it with a news flash
and/or Mayor press release
Another option may be to focus on our second meter customers and adjust our billing system so that all
irrigation water is billed at the highest rate of$2.60 per thousand gallons. In the eYample below, the 3"'
quarter domestic usage is 15,000 gallons and the irrigation usage is 84,000 gallons. The current billing
system adds the two meters together before applying the tiered rates. Consequently, the second meter
households that use less than 48,000 gallons on their domestic meter are paying a lower rate for their
irrigation water until they reach the 48,000 gallon threshold. The following tables illustrate the difference.
Current Billin Ad�usted Billin
Gallons Rate Total Gallons Rate Total
12,000 $1.11 $13.32 12,000 $1.11 $13.32
12,000 $1.39 $16.68 3,000 $1.39 $4.17
24,000 $1.74 $41.76 84,000 $2.60 $218.40
51,000 $2.60 $132.60 99,000 $235.89
99,000 $204.3G
Under both billing scenarios, this customer is saving$151.20 in sewer use charges for the quarter
compared to a similar customer without the second meter (84 x $1.80).
Because this may be viewed as unfairly penalizing households with second meters, a final option may be to
increase the highest tier rate so that all high water users are affected. r1 typical household that does not
irrigate would rarely consume more than 48,000 gallons in a quarter, so their rates would not be
significandy impacted.
SUMMARY
Staff is providing this information for discussion purposes; no action is required. Consideration should be
given to implementing some of the suggested initiatives listed in the report, keeping in mind that some
may require more staff time and/or resources than what is currendy available.
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