Exh 8BAGENDA ITEM #8B
FEBRUARY 14, 2005
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Proposed Changes to City Code-Chapter 22, Utilities
Fire Line Metering and Charges
SUBMITTED BY: Donna Kaluzniak, Utility Director
DATE: January 24, 2005
BACKGROUND: As part of the City's Water Loss Prevention Program, staff conducted
research on existing fire service lines. Fire service lines are individual water services that are
used strictly for fire sprinkler systems or for private fire hydrants. In theory, they would only be
used during a fire, or while testing or repairing the sprinkler system or hydrants for proper
function.
The City's existing ordinance, under sections 22-28 and 22-30 allows the City to charge a special
rate of $62/year for these services, and states that these services shall not be metered. After
reviewing ordinances in other cities, and discussion with our meter supplier, staff is
recommending metering on all fire line services in order to properly account for water used
through these water lines. This is important because there are many ways that unmetered water
can be used through a fire line, either intentionally or unintentionally. There can be unnoticed
leaks in the fire line. Plumbers or owners can mistakenly connect internal lines to the fire line.
And employees can use private fire hydrants for unintended uses such as truck washing or filling
up water tanks. Even the annual system tests can use a significant amount of water.
Staff recommends a fire line meter be required for all new fire line services. This is a specially
designed meter for fire service lines that allows full flow during a fire emergency or system test.
These meters would be read and the volume recorded each month. Regarding volume charges
the Commission would have the option to:
^ Charge the customer for volume at the standard rates
^ Not to charge the customer for volume, but to have the volume included for accounting of
water used.
^ Charge the customer for volume at a special rate, or
^ Allow credits for fire line testing or use during a fire, with proof required. Staff
recommends the last option, which would allow the City to obtain revenue for water used
for any purposes other than fire protection or testing.
Staff also recommends that the City require installation of detector check meters on all existing
fire lines. These are small meters that are installed on a bypass on the fire service line. It will
register that flow has occurred, but will not indicate the full flow through the line. If read on a
regular basis, the City can monitor whether flow has occurred, and require verification that the
flow was for a fire or fire line test. If verification is not provided, the City can then require the
AGENDA ITEM #8B
FEBRUARY 14, 200
owner to install a fire line meter as above.
Regazding the annual charge for fire line services, staff recommends the standard base chazge per
month per meter. This is in lieu of the $62/ year currently in the ordinance.
BUDGET: Budget impact will depend upon the option chosen for volume rates for fire line
meters. Actual dollaz amount unknown at this time.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to proceed with a draft ordinance revision to Chapter
22, Utilities, to require fire line meter installation on new fire services, and installation of
detector check meters on existing fire services, and charge the standazd base rate in lieu of the
existing annual $62 charge. Provide staff with recommendation for volume charges for fire
services with fire line meters.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Drawing of fire line meter.
2. Drawing of detector check meter.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER
2
AGENDA ITEM #8B
' ATTACHMENT 1 FEBRUARY 14, 2005
' ~ COMPACT FIRELINE invensys FM-721
1 of 5
Metering Systems
4, 6, 8, 10-INCH FIRE SERVICE ASSEMBLIES
Sizes: 4"(DN 100mm)x 1-1/2"(DN 40mm)
6" (DN 150mm)x 2"(DN 50mm)
8" (DN 200mm)x 2"(DN 50mm)
10" (DN 250mm)x 2"(DN SOmm)
AGENDA ITEM #8B
__--..........,._._ ___. ... FEBRUARY 14, 2005
ATTACHMIIVT 2 DETECTOR CHECK METER INSTALLED 'ON BACKFLOW PREVEIVTER
. ~_
Backflow preventer ..~ /
.,
,~
~ 1,
Detector check meter ~ .'