Meters and your monthly bill: - FGUA

INSIDECustomers who havechanged or not provideda phone number ore-mail account areencouraged to contact theFGUA Customer ServiceOffice and update theirinformation.If you’re on a budget andcan’t afford new water andenergy-efficient appliancesand contraptions right now,here are a few ways to startconserving water withoutspending a penny.Leaks – from toilets or faucetsor irrigation systems – canresult in increases in your waterbill, damage to your home, aswell as thousands of wastedgallons of water!NEWSWinter 2010Meters andyour monthly bill:updates & information from yourwater and wastewater utilityEach month the FGUA sendsyou a bill for your water and/orwastewater usage. The utility uses themeter reading to calculate your bill. FGUA readsthe meter approximately every 30 days. The meterreaders have no access to the previous read, andthey read approximately 600 meters every day,so they don’t remember the previousread. The utility has no way ofknowing how the waterwas used, or on what day,just how much wasmeasured since themeter was last read.Per the nationalindustry standardsthe FGUA onlycount the thousandsof gallons. The lowernumbers are measuredby the meter, but will only becounted when they add up to thenext 1000 gallons. So, if the meter numbers showsthat 32,439 gallons went through the meter, thenthe read would be 32. If the previous month’s readwas 29, then 3000 gallons were measured throughthe meter since your last read, and your bill wouldreflect usage of 3.Only the fresh water entering the propertyis measured by the meter. Wastewater usageis the water that goes down the drain, and isnot measured. For residential properties, thewastewater usage has a cap being billed monthly.Business customers are charged the same usagefor both water and wastewater and there is no cap.The utility is required by state law to read themeter, and use the measurement to formulateyour bill. If the meter is not accessible, due to lockedgates, bees in the meter box, something coveringthe meter, or any other reason, a door tag will beleft on the door to arrange access to the meter.In case the customer does not respond, theutility may have to send an estimated bill. Thecharges will be an average usage over the lasttwelve months. The bills will show the wordESTIMATED in all capital letters, and when themeter can be read again, any difference in usagewill be charged or credited to the water account.Estimated bills are rare, and the utility will useevery option of contacting the customer to get acorrect read each month.If your read changes drastically, the computerwill flag it and a meter reader will double checkthe meter reading before mailing out the monthlybill. In case of a re-read, we will also check the leakdetector. The leak detector is a small circle with atriangle inside it, located on the meter face withthe numbers. Anytime water is going through themeter, the triangle spins. If the leak detector showswater usage when the meter is read, the meterreader will leave a door tag marked that a leak hasbeen indicated and you should call a plumber.You should also check your meter periodically.Make sure it is accessible. Check to see if the pipesare leaking since you could be charged if the watergoes through the meter. Do this when you knowthat no water is being used so you can check theleak detector. Leaks can occur underground so youmay not see or hear them, but could raise your billsignificantly. Even a small leak can raise your bill.A smallfaucet drip, or atoilet that runs, whethercontinuously or occasionally, will raiseyour usage, and therefore your total bill due.If you think there is a problem with your bill, theutility can send a staff member out to re-read themeter. There is no charge for one re-read. It usuallytakes one working day to get the paperworkback from the field staff, so we ask customersto wait two days to receive results. If the read ishigher than the previous read, then the meter ismeasuring water correctly and you may want tocontact a plumber. If the read is lower, then an erroroccurred and you will be credited the difference.There has never been a documented instanceof a meter measuring too much water. As metersget older, they measure less water as it entersthe device. The utility has a program to replaceany meters that are 10 years old to ensure theymeasure the correct amount.Save water; save money!Leaks – from toilets or faucets orirrigation systems – can resultin increases in your water bill,damage to your home, as wellas thousands of wasted gallonsof water! A single leaky faucetcan waste 100 gallons in a day!Source: https://my.sfwmd.gov

FGUA AT YOUR SERVICELehigh Acres Office866-310-4878FguaCS_Lehigh@govserv.comGolden Gate Office800-818-9677FguaCS_GoldenGate@govserv.comPasco Office727-372-0115FguaCS_PascoCo@govserv.com5 Ways to SaveWater on a TightBudgetIf you’re on a budget and can’tafford new water and energy-efficientappliances and contraptions right now,here are a few ways to start conservingwater without spending a penny.1. Seek out dripping faucets andtighten when necessary. Thisseems like an obvious one, butsubtle drips from hot-water tapswill waste energy as well.2. Take shorter showers. Afour-minute shower usesapproximately 20 to 40 gallons ofwater. Now, this seems incrediblyshort to do all of the shampooing,rinsing, and soaping necessary, sostart out with a timer. For starters,try cutting back your shower byone minute every other day. Everyunneeded minute can use 5 to 10gallons of water.3. Keep a bottle of drinking water inthe fridge. Don’t waste runningwater by waiting for it to get cold.4. Turn off the bathroom faucetwhile brushing your teeth. Wetyour brush and fill a small cup formouth rinsing.5. Pre-wash your dishwasher dishesas little as possible. The applianceis most efficient when allowed todo its job; washing your dishestwice is also a waste of yourprecious time. Also, only runyour dishwasher once you haveenough for a full load. This goes forwashing machines, too.Reference: Publish Date: 2009-06-20http://www.waterconservationusa.org/articles.htmlComments about FGUA News?Contact Yvette Hartsfield, Editor,at yhartsfield@govmserv.comFGUA Water Conservation Education ProgramThe FGUA Water Conservation Education Program, a new program which provideswater conservation presentations to schools and school children located withinthe FGUA Pasco Utility System area, has been launched. Public, private, charterand home-school educators may contact the FGUA Pasco Utility System Office toreceive information about the program or schedule presentations free of chargefor their students. These presentations are also available in the Golden Gate andLehigh Acres Systems.Please notify us if your informationhas changedCustomers who have changed or not provided a phone number or e-mail accountare encouraged to contact the FGUA Customer Service Office and update theirinformation. The FGUA anticipates providing phone and e-mail notifications in thefuture to customers, who may be impacted by planned service activities, such as boil waternotices and system maintenance. Lehigh Acres and Golden Gate customers may update theirinformation at www.fgua.com, by clicking the account information button on the left side of the home page.FGUA PROJECTSPasco System Projectsto the District on October 1, 2009. The • A project is currently underway to installstudy included residential meter bench automatic flushing devices in Golden Gate.• A phosphate corrosion control additivetesting, well meter calibration, water main Installation of automatic flushing deviceshas been introduced into the water supplyinspection and large meter flow testing to at locations experiencing low chlorineat the water treatment plants as partdetermine the amount of unaccounted for residuals will help maintain water qualityof the corrosion control program. Thewater in the FGUA Pasco Utility System. The and ensure a better finished product.additive, which received support fromreport showed a reduction in unaccountedthe Florida Department of Environmentalfor water, and recommended continuing Lehigh Acres System ProjectsProtection and other regulatory agencies,the meter replacement program, inspectionwill minimize the occurrence of leaks in• An Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) removaland repairs of leaks and meteringcustomers’ copper piping.project is currently under construction. Thisunmetered flows.project is intended to reduce (I&I) into the• The FGUA is continuing system-widecollection system during the rainy season.• The FGUA Pasco Moisture Conservationflushing of the FGUA Seven Springs System.Construction includes testing and sealingProgram continues. Pasco Utility SystemThe Flushing is part of the FGUA’s prudentjoints and laterals, manhole to manholecustomers may receive free equipment toutility practices and assists in scouringlining, smoke testing, cleaning and videomonitor and reduce their lawn consumptionpossible build-up, increasing circulation andinspecting sewer lines.during the ongoing drought. The sensorsremoving stagnant water from the servicemay be obtained by visiting the FGUA Pascolines. Where practical, customers have been• A wastewater lift station rehabilitationUtility System Office in New Port Richey.and will continue to be notified within 24project is currently under constructionhours of activity through mailed letters andin Lehigh Acres and is estimated to beGolden Gate System Projectssignage at the entrance of each community.completed in April 2010. This project will• A water system distribution project is increase the size of Master Lift Station• “Coupon testing” has occurred at the FGUA currently underway in Golden Gate. This No. 44 and help prevent possible overflows.well sites, entailing running potable water project will loop identified water mains toover a small copper sample and measuring improve hydraulic conditions and water• Construction of a reuse expansion projectthe level of corrosion over time. The results quality.began in December 2009 and will increaseare being gathered and will help determinethe availability of reclaimed water inthe best dosage rates for the corrosion• The expansion of the Golden GateLehigh Acres.additive. Customers experiencing reddishWastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) iscolored water or experiencing leaking pipesnearing completion. This project expanded• A well rehabilitation project is currentlyshould contact the FGUA Pasco Customerthe current plant capacity from 0.95 MGDunderway in Lehigh Acres which is forService line at (727) 372-0115 so staff mayto 1.50 MGD and included a dedicatedthe yearly rehabilitation of the existingtrack the events.brine disposal line and pump station thatgroundwater wells. The rehabilitationdirectly routes RO concentrate byproductconsists of video inspection, flushing,• The water distribution system mapping has from the water treatment plant to thepump inspection, etc.been completed using existing hard mapsand electronic files. The maps are being usednewly constructed deep injection well atthe (WWTP).• A manhole rehabilitation project is currentlyunderway and includes sealing and coatingfor a computer modeling program wheredifferent customer demands are matched• An Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) removalof deteriorated manholes and adjustmentswith alternate treatment and pumpingproject is currently under construction. Thisthat are necessary to restore the manholesscenarios to derive the best solution. Theproject is intended to reduce (I&I) into theto their original condition.wastewater collection system and thecollection system during the rainy season. • A filter rehabilitation project is currentlyreclaimed water distribution system haveConstruction includes testing and sealing underway at the Lehigh Acres Wateralso been mapped to assist in ongoingjoints and laterals, manhole to manhole Treatment Plant (WTP) No. 1. Theoperations and future planning.lining, smoke testing, cleaning and video rehabilitation includes removing andinspecting gravity sewer lines.disposing of all existing media, acid cleaning• The FGUA has worked closely with PascoCounty Utilities to determine future system• A manhole rehabilitation project is currentlyall stainless steel filter discs, sand blastinginterconnection locations. The design andunder construction and includes sealingthe interior to bare metal and recoating withconstruction of the interconnections isand coating of deteriorated manholes andan NSF epoxy and installation of new media.ongoing and is scheduled for completionadjustments that are necessary to restore • A wastewater lift station telemetry projectin February of 2011. A request has beenthe manholes to their original condition. is currently underway in Lehigh Acres.granted by the SWFWMD to extend the • A lift station pump replacement projectThe project includes installation of radiodeadline for interconnection to the County is currently underway in Golden Gate.telemetry units that will be integrated intoto March 2011.This project includes replacement of agedthe current SCADA system.• Water auditing, required by the Southwestpumps that have been repaired or rehabbedFlorida Water Management Districtmultiple times. Replacement of these pumps(SWFWMD) was completed and submittedhelps prevent possible lift station overflows.Florida Governmental Utility Authority Board Members Lea Ann Thomas, Chairperson (863-534-6031); Jim Lavender, Vice Chair (239-479-8505); Robert Knight (352-527-7647), Town of Dundee VACANT, Michele L. Baker(727-847-8115), Shane Parker (863-675-5220), Chris Rogers (863-491-7500) Alternates Polk: VACANT, Lee: Douglas L. Meurer, PE (239-479-8779), Hendry: VACANT, Pasco: Bruce E. Kennedy, P.E. (727-847-8115), Town of Dundee: VACANT,Citrus: VACANT, Desoto: Bart Arrington System Management Robert E. Sheets, System Manager (850-681-3717); Tarek Fahmy, Director of Operations (877-552-3482) Contact Faith Doyle, Clerk to the Board, FGUA Operations Office, Suite2000, 280 Wekiva Springs Rd, Longwood FL 32779, 877-552-FGUA (3482) Toll Free, 407-629-6900 T | 407-629-6963 F, System Office & Customer Service Centers Golden Gate: 239-455-1583, Lehigh Acres: 239-368-1615, Pasco Systems:727-372-0115 www.fgua.com FGUA News Editor: yhartsfield@govmserv.com