9.15.020 Property owner water leak adjustment credit policy.
(1) The property owner’s water leak must be repaired within 30 days of notice by the district or the property owner’s knowledge of the leak. In cases where the district has provided notice by a high consumption door hanger, a high consumption letter, and/or a note on the property owner’s regular bill, the district shall use the date of the district’s most recent notice, which would typically be the note on the property owner’s regular bill.
(2) Property owners of single-family residential or duplex customer accounts, who own the real property subject to such accounts, may apply for a leak adjustment credit within 60 days of the district’s property owner notice or the property owner’s knowledge of the leak. In cases where the district has provided notice by a high consumption door hanger, a high consumption letter, and/or a note on the property owner’s regular bill, the district shall use the date of the district’s most recent notice, which would typically be the note on the property owner’s regular bill. The application for water leak adjustment credit shall include proof of the repaired water leak. Proof of the water leak’s repair may be in the form of pictures, receipt(s) for repair parts, contractor’s invoice, or other documentation that indicates the water leak has been repaired.
(3) The customer shall be charged for their regular water use at the district’s per unit water rate and for their leaked water use at the AWWA rate. The property owner’s water leak adjustment credit shall be the difference between what the customer was charged for the regular billing period when the leak was incurred, less the amount charged for their regular water use, less the amount charged for their leaked water use. An example of the calculation is provided.
|
Calculation Factors |
Water Consumption (CCF) |
Water per Unit Rate |
Water Costs |
|
Total Monthly or Bimonthly Bill Consumption and Charges |
300 |
2.45 |
$735.00 |
|
Regular Water Use – Previous Year’s Consumption for Same Bill Period |
24 |
2.45 |
$58.80 |
|
Leaked Water Use – Total Water Use – Regular Water Use |
276 |
1.25 |
$345.00 |
|
Total Amount Customer Pays (Regular Water Use Cost + Leaked Water Use Cost) |
$403.80 |
||
|
Customer Water Leak Adjustment Credit |
$331.20 |
||
(4) The district shall provide a water leak adjustment credit for one regular monthly or bimonthly billing period and shall base the actual water consumption on the water use billed for the property owner’s current monthly or bimonthly bill.
(5) A property can only receive one water leak adjustment credit every five years, regardless of changes of property owners, residents, tenants, or occupants.
(6) The general manager, or designee, shall review a property owner’s water leak adjustment credit form to determine if the property owner qualifies to receive the water leak adjustment credit and the amount of the credit.
(7) The finance manager, or designee, may approve a property owner to pay a significant water billing related to a leak, less the water leak adjustment credit, over a period of time not to exceed 12 months. The general manager may approve a property owner to pay a significant water billing related to a leak, less the water leak adjustment credit, over a period of time greater than 12 months. The general manager, or designee, shall identify and approve the monthly or bimonthly amount due to the leak adjustment the customer must pay in addition to the customer’s regular water and sewer charges. [Res. 782 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2019; Res. 764 § 4, 2018.]