CHANGES IN WATER LOSS ADJUSTMENT POLICY

On April 26, 2007, the OWASA Board of Directors adopted changes in our policy on account adjustments for water loss due to leaks and unexplained water loss.

The OWASA Board adopted the revised policy after inviting customers to comment on and ask questions about the proposed changes.

(Our current policy is summarized below. The policy is available in its entirety here.)

We publicized the proposed policy changes in our March, 2007 Blue Thumb customer newsletter, a news release that was covered by local news media and on our Website.

The purpose of the policy changes is:

• to encourage customers to conserve water by stopping  leaks and other water loss quickly, and
• because our customers’ rates reflect costs including the effect of account adjustments on our revenues.  From the 2003-04 fiscal year to 2005-06, adjustments under our previous policy tripled, from $31,232 to $95,151. The latter equals about one half of one per cent of our annual operating budget.

 

Current policy

OWASA may make an account adjustment when a customer has an emergency water loss due to conditions beyond the customer’s reasonable control, including:

No adjustments for irrigation system leaks.

Limit the adjustment period for leaks in readily visible fixtures to one month.

No adjustments for unexplained water loss.

No adjustments within one year of completion of construction.

Same basic credit method as in the past except limit adjustments for single-family individually metered accounts to $1,000; limit adjustments for non-residential accounts and bulk-metered apartments, condominiums, etc. to $3,000.

Account adjustments due to leaks may be approved once every three years. (No change)

Adjustments must be requested within 90 days of the date of the high water bill due to water loss/leak, or within 90 days of an OWASA notice of high water use, whichever came first. (No change)

As noted above: limit the adjustment period for leaks in readily visible fixtures to one month;  limit adjustments for single-family individually metered accounts to $1,000; limit adjustments for non-residential accounts and bulk-metered apartments, condominiums, etc. to $3,000.

Customers who completely refill their pools qualify for one adjustment per year to their sewer charges.  (No change)

OWASA may make discretionary determinations as to the applicability of the policy in circumstances involving abnormal water usage or loss. (No change)