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ITEM: |
ACTION ITEM |
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Meeting
Date: |
February 13, 2023 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
David J.
Stoldt, |
Program/ |
4-2-3 |
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General
Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared
By: |
Stephanie Locke |
Cost
Estimate: |
N/A |
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General Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee considered this item on February 6, 2023 and recommended the Board adopt Resolution No. 2023-03. |
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CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project
as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section
15378. |
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SUMMARY: At
its September 9, 2022, meeting, the Water Demand Committee unanimously
supported adding a rebate for Non-Residential smart toilet leak detectors as a
compliment to the previously approved rebate for Smart Flowmeters. Smart toilet
leak detectors are devices attached to a toilet that is connected into a smart
network to notify maintenance personnel via text or computer alert in the event
of a leak in a toilet. At the September meeting, the Committee discussed the rebate
for Visitor Serving Facilities (i.e., hotels). Since then, staff has received
additional information about the effectiveness of these devices in multi-unit
Master Metered apartment buildings.
The recommended rebate for installation of 20 or more leak detector units
is 25 percent of the cost of the individual monitoring device. The cost of
these systems varies, hence the proposed percentage of the purchase price. The maximum
rebate per Site should be capped at $15,000. California American Water’s staff
supports this additional rebate, and funding is available in the rebate account
on a first come, first served basis, and is funded annually. Staff will work
with Cal-Am to notify large Users of this new rebate.
RECOMMENDATION: The Finance and Administration Committee recommends
that the Board approve Resolution No. 2023-03 to add a rebate for 25 percent of
the cost of 20 or more smart toilet leak detector units installed in a Visitor
Serving Facility or a Master Metered Multi-Family Residential Site to a maximum
rebate of $15,000. Adoption of this
Resolution will amend Table XIV-1
BACKGROUND: The District was approached by the Portola
Plaza Hotel about assistance for a large-scale toilet leak detection system
that includes a web-based smart notification portal. The system is called Sensor
Industries Toilet Sensor (https://www.sensorindustries.com/toilet-sensor/). A similar system was installed just prior
to the pandemic in hotels in Pebble Beach. During 2020, Pebble Beach Company
noticed significant water savings because of these devices, especially when the
rooms were vacant.
In 2021, the Board approved a rebate for Smart Flowmeters (up to $200)
which offers similar leak detecting capabilities for residential and small
commercial settings. Smart Flowmeters monitor a household’s water use by
accurately measuring water use through plumbing and by sending customizable
alerts through a convenient web portal or mobile application. Customers can see
their water use down to a fraction of a gallon and usage as frequently as every
minute, keeping them informed of overall water use, unusual water use, or
suspected leaks.
In commercial settings with multiple toilet fixtures (i.e., hotels and
apartment complexes), the use of Smart Flowmeters along with multiple smart
toilet leak detectors on a network adds capability to detect and repair leaks
promptly. A graphic of how this works is shown below and is from the Sensor
Industries website:
EXHIBIT
15-A Draft
Resolution No. 2023-03
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2023\20230213\Action
Item\15\Item-15.docx