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<br />than the minimum was raised to $2.30 per 1000 gallons per SFE. Also, the <br />minimum was effectively lowered for non-residential (commercial) by <br />basing the minimum on meter size instead of SFEs. This was done <br />especially to encourage restaurants to conserve water. To date this has <br />resulted in bringing to the attention of many customers the need to take <br />measures to reduce the use of water and to fix leaks, especially for toilets. <br />Many of the high water bill complaints received by the Town of <br />Breckenridge can be traced to leaking toilets. Also, according to <br />Fluidmaster, Inc., a toilet repair company, leaking toilets are the most <br />common cause of high water bills. Also, according to the Washington <br />Suburban Sanitary Commission of Maryland, nine out of ten high water <br />bill complaints can be traced to leaking toilets. A permit and a Town <br />provided meter are required for bulk water sales from fire hydrants. Also, <br />the Town will have automatic meter reading (AMR) installed for all the <br />water meters this year. One of the many benefits of AMR is it would <br />facilitate a change in the frequency of water billing if the Town desired <br />such a change. Another benefit will be the ability to monitor to the nearest <br />gallon a customer with a leak downstream of the meter or with a high <br />water bill complaint. We will be able to report to the customer the <br />verification of a leak and the amount of leakage on the same day without <br />going inside the building. <br /> <br />Cost Benefit: The Town spent about $20,000 for a consultant to do the <br />water rate study in 2001. The monetary incentive to save water has paid <br />off with water savings and reduced costs for the customer and repaired <br />leaks for the Town. The benefit of AMR will pay the Town back in the <br />next one or two decades with reduced worker compensation claims from <br />meter reader injuries, with reduced staff increases for more technicians as <br />more meters are added, and with quicker customer leak repairs due to real <br />time monitoring capability. <br /> <br />8. Regulatory measures <br /> <br />In 2002 and 2003 the Town adopted a drought water restrictions resolution <br />and ordinance. It is a phased approach based on decreasing river inflow to <br />the Tarn reservoir by first asking for voluntary compliance in any year and <br />then requiring mandatory restrictions as the inflow reaches certain levels. <br /> <br />Cost Benefit: No cost to the Town. It prepares the customer well in <br />advance of mandatory restrictions during a drought. <br /> <br />9. Incentives to implement water use efficiency techniques <br /> <br />As mentioned previously there are incentives found in the water ordinance <br />which include reduced tap fees for car washes with recirculating systems, <br />and reduced or eliminated excess fees by fixing inside leaks, by installing <br />