MID-DAKOTA RURAL WATER SYSTEM, INC.
Miller, South Dakota
Rules and Regulations / OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES
Policy Bulletin (PB) Series: 300
Bulletin No. :20

PB 320

Relief for Unintended Water Use

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Policy is to provide relief for certain Users from the cost of unintended water use. This policy establishes the procedures and rules for completing requests and determining the amount of reimbursement from the Corporation for unintended water use.

TERMS OF POLICY

  1. Only Residential and Livestock Users are eligible for reimbursement under this policy.
  1. For the purposes of this policy, “Unintended Water Use” means water use resulting from a leak, vandalism, theft, faulty plumbing fittings or fixtures or someother unintended use beyond the User’s control. No adjustments will be made for water use resulting from:

1.Premises left or abandoned without reasonable care for the plumbing.

2.Filling of or leaks connected with swimming pools or spas.

3.Irrigation of lawns, gardens, trees or other botanical specimens.

4.Gross negligence or intentional acts.

  1. Upon written application on the form provided by the Corporation and, if applicable, such validation of the repair of the cause of the Unintended Water Use as the Corporation may reasonably require, the User will be reimbursed for the cost of water lost as follows:
  1. Monthly metered Users will be responsible for paying their average monthly use. Average monthly use will be determined by the average monthly use during the six (6) months prior to the Unintended Water Use. For example if an Unintended Water Use results in a water bill of $600.00, and the User's average monthly billing over the prior six (6) months is $100.00, then the credit for Unintended Water Use will be $500.00.
  1. Annually metered Users will be responsible for paying for an amount equal to their previous yearly use. If the User provides clear evidence that the usage factors for the period of the Unintended Water Use were substantially different in the previous year (e.g., no livestock using the tap), then the Corporation will determine the credit hereunder based on the average of the usage for the past three (3) years. By way of example, when using the previous year's usage, the credit would be calculated as follows: The Unintended Water Use results in a bill of $3,600.00. The prior year's bill was $800.00. The User is responsible for $1,100.00, which is the sum of the previous year's billing plus the excess over the maximum credit available under this policy. The Corporation would provide a credit of $2,500.00.
  1. No User shall be allowed more than one credit herunder during a rolling twelve (12) month period. The maxium credit available to any one User during any one rolling twelve (12) month period is $2,500.00.
  1. The User must apply for a credit under this policy within ninety (90) days from the date of billing which gave notice, or upon the exercise of reasonable diligence should have given notice, to the User that an Uninteded Water Use has occured.
  1. The Board of Directors may deviate from the guidelines set forth herein by good cause, to be determined in the Board’s sole and exclusive discretion. Nothing in this policy is intended to confer any right on any User for relief or credit.

CROSS REFERENCE(S)

Date Initially Adopted: / 10/14/2003 / Amended / Revised:
Considered
Effective / 03/08/2005
08/12/2008
04/10/2012
07/11/2017
10/01/2017

______

ADOPTED:

By: ______

Chairperson of the Board

(Corporate Seal)
ATTEST:

By: ______

Title: ______