Sec. 34-1252. - Conversion benefit—Existing customers.
Sec. 34-1253. - Same—Edwards exchange customers.
Secs. 34-1256—34-1270. - Reserved.
All onsite recycled water distribution piping within the city shall be installed by a licensed and bonded plumbing contractor. A permit and inspection by the city building inspections department shall be required. All piping and installation shall be in accordance and comply with Section 603 and Appendix J of the adopted Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) or other adopted standards.
(Ord. No. 87597, § 1, 3-26-98)
Sec. 34-1252. - Conversion benefit—Existing customers.
(a)
If a SAWS existing customer contracts to purchase recycled water from SAWS in lieu of using Edwards Aquifer water, then the existing customer may be entitled to financial assistance for the cost of infrastructure improvements determined by SAWS to be necessary and appropriate for converting to recycled water.
(b)
The financial assistance shall be extended only to the extent available and will initially be made available only to existing customers and Edwards exchange customers. If additional funds for financial assistance remain available after existing customers and Edwards exchange customers have had an opportunity to utilize financial assistance, financial assistance may be made available, at the discretion of SAWS, to other customers.
(c)
SAWS will credit the existing customer a one-time conversion benefit for approved onsite and/or distribution main recycled water system improvements equal to the sum of nine hundred dollars ($900.00) per acre foot of water per year that the existing customer contracts with SAWS to take. The conversion benefit shall be computed utilizing the average acre feet of water the existing customer contracts to purchase during the initial five (5) years of the recycled water purchase contract, not to exceed the customer's peak historic use, as the multiplier of the nine-hundred-dollar figure.
(d)
The conversion benefit may be used only by an existing customer to pay for the existing customer's offsite and onsite improvements for use of recycled water, including but not limited to distribution mains; meters and appurtenances thereto; connection of the recycled water system from the meter to the common distribution points of recycled water on the existing customer's property; retrofit of irrigation and other water systems to take water from the separate recycled water source rather than from the existing Edwards water source; costs of modifying equipment to use the recycled water (e.g., pressure adjustments); storage facilities for recycled water to be stored onsite for use during peak demand periods when there is determined by SAWS to be a benefit to the entire recycled water system from such storage; and switchover equipment allowing the existing customer to switch from the recycled water source to a substitute water source should recycled water not be available. The conversion benefit shall be used to pay first for the cost of a distribution main to be built at the existing customer's expense and secondly, to the extent of any conversion benefit remaining, for the cost of the existing customer's onsite improvements. Conversion benefit may be used to pay for both design and construction costs.
(e)
SAWS may approve use of the conversion benefit funds for specialized recycled water equipment based on existing customer's needs. Such additional authorized uses for the funds may include onsite testing facilities for recycled water quality or water quality improvement facilities. Conversion benefit funds may be used only for construction and equipping such specialized recycled water facilities, but specifically not to reimburse the existing customer's operating and maintenance costs for the water quality and/or recycled water monitoring procedures.
(Ord. No. 87597, § 1, 3-26-98)
Sec. 34-1253. - Same—Edwards exchange customers.
An Edwards exchange customer may be entitled to receive a conversion benefit payment, because of its transfer of Edwards Aquifer water withdrawal rights to SAWS, in addition to any conversion benefit the Edwards exchange customer might qualify for as an existing customer for SAWS potable water. An Edwards exchange customer's additional conversion benefit may be computed by multiplying nine hundred dollars ($900.00) by the number of acre feet of Edwards Aquifer water withdrawal rights the owner has transferred to SAWS. In addition to the permitted use of conversion benefits set out in this article, the Edwards exchange customer may use the conversion benefit payment to cap or plug closed wells and to construct onsite transportation facilities from the recycled water main to the points of use of the recycled water.
(Ord. No. 87597, § 1, 3-26-98)
A conversion benefit shall be credited when all of the following have occurred:
(1)
The existing customer or Edwards exchange customer has executed a recycled water contract with SAWS specifying the volume of recycled water anticipated to be purchased each year for not less than five (5) years;
(2)
The existing customer or Edwards exchange customer agrees to pay all costs associated with recycled water service not covered by SAWS;
(3)
The existing customer or Edwards exchange customer has prepared and submitted to SAWS a water conservation plan which is to be implemented within one (1) year;
(4)
The existing customer or Edwards exchange customer has completed all onsite and offsite retrofitting which is to be paid for by conversion benefit funds, as well as any other onsite work reasonably necessary to begin use of the recycled water in accordance with the approved recycled water plan within six (6) months; and
(5)
The Edwards exchange customer has completed the transfer of Edwards Aquifer water withdrawal rights which establish its Edwards exchange customers status and such transfer has been fully approved by the Edwards Aquifer Authority pursuant to 31 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 705, Subchapter H.
(Ord. No. 87597, § 1, 3-26-98)
If a customer fails to perform all conditions for payment of a conversion benefit and such breach continues uncured for sixty (60) days after written notice of the breach by SAWS, then SAWS may require the immediate refund of the conversion benefit, which sum shall be payable to SAWS on demand.
(Ord. No. 87597, § 1, 3-26-98)