Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

Maybe you hear it, maybe you don't. Somewhere a faucet is leaking, a sink is overflowing, a sprinkler is splashing millions of droplets into streets.

Our most valuable resource is going down the drain at an alarming rate. But it won't be long before those drip-drops stop.

The City of Fresno is about to reach a new level of water conservation with the installation of water meters. Meters will allow customers to realize leaks they may not have noticed before around the house -- and that will lead to countless gallons of water saved.

If you're wondering, "How is this going to affect me?" the answers are right here. This kit provides valuable information about meters, including tips on how to conserve water in your home and other ways the City can help you save. Also in this kit are comments from participants in our Volunteer Water Meter Study, in which 70 households allowed the City to install water meters at their home for 12 months. The goal of the study was to use their experiences to help others adjust to this new way of paying for our water.

So why meters? The law requires it. In 2004, California passed a state law, AB 514, which mandates that all customers of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP) water have meters installed and be billed a metered rate by 2013. The City contracts for 60,000 acre feet of CVP water every year from the federal government representing about 40 percent of our total water supply.

But it's not just about satisfying the needs of today. It’s about the bigger picture. Learning to conserve now and teaching our children to do the same, so they too may live in a water conscious world.

Together as a community, we can use water meters as another way to conserve the one thing we need most, both now and for future generations.

Water is essential to each of us every day. But it's a limited resource, and we all need to rethink the way we use water on a daily basis. Up to 70% of water used is outside the home and much of that water is wasted. By following these water-saving tips inside and outdoors, you can help save water every day.

  • Fix leaky faucets.
    • Save 15-20 gallons per day per leak.
  • Fix leaky toilets.
    • Save 30-500 gallons of water daily.
  • Water landscapes only when necessary.
  • Plant water-wise San Joaquin Valley-friendly trees and plants.
    • Save 2/3 of the water used compared to non-water-wise plants.
  • Adjust sprinklers so they don’t water driveways, streets and sidewalks.
    • Save 15-25 gallons per day.
  • Use shut-off nozzles on your hoses and a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks.
    • Save 8-18 gallons per minute.
  • Run the dishwasher only when full.
    • Save 2-4.5 gallons per load.
  • Only wash full loads of laundry.
    • Save 15-50 gallons per load.
  • Take shorter showers and only fill up the bathtub about 1/3 full.
    • Save 2.5 gallons per minute.
  • Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth or shaving.
    • Save 2 gallons per minute.

In addition to the services the Water Division provides all year long, we also offer seasonal annual events and educational outreach including:

Water-Wise Plant Exchange

In May, the City of Fresno hosts an annual water-wise plant exchange. This event invites gardeners from around the Valley to share water-wise plants from their gardens in exchange for others. Please look under Conservation on our Web site: www.fresnowater.org for the next scheduled date and photos from the 2009 event.

Kid's Camp

Also an annual event, Kid’s Camp is a one-day event held each summer for children 8 to 9 years old. The camp is free for all children of City of Fresno water customers and includes hands-on activities to help learn about the importance of water in new and exciting ways.

Educational Outreach

The Water Division is active in the community through its water education program, which includes classroom presentations, outreach educational information, speakers' bureau for presentations, and water operations tours. Community educational outreach events allow us an opportunity to keep customers in the Fresno City service area up-to-date on water use information, and provide the customer a forum to discuss concerns or to offer recommendations. Call 621-5480 or email waterconservation@fresno.gov for more information or to schedule.

Classroom Presentations

The Water Division's Education Staff can present water information to students and teachers.

Water Conservation Workshop

Learn more about water conservation regulations and policies at your site or our offices.

Outreach Information Booths

Provide information to the public to promote a better understanding of the benefits of conserving water.

Materials

Water conservation informational literature and materials may be available upon request in limited amounts.

Tours

We invite you to tour Water Division operations. The tours provide an overview of Water Division field and office operations. A separate tour can be arranged for the Surface Water Treatment Facility.

Speakers’ Bureau

We have speakers available to make presentations to your club, organization, professional group or neighborhood meetings. Topics can range from current local water issues, conservation, water-efficient landscape, water quality, water supply, water education and more.

Shadow Water Conservation

Gain a better perspective of water conservation issues by shadowing Water Conservation. Choose to ride-a-long with a Water Conservation representative or visit our offices to observe Conservation Center Operations.

Bilingual Customer Services

Spanish and Hmong language services and literature are available.

Contact us

For more information about the above services, call 621-5480 or email waterconservation@fresno.gov.

Did you know the City of Fresno Water Division offers several rebates and programs for both residential and commercial customers to encourage water conservation?

Residential Rebates

  • Low-Flush Toilet Rebate -- The City offers a rebate to residential customers who replace inefficient toilets with qualifying Ultra Low Flush Toilets (ULFT) of 1.6 gallons per flush or High Efficiency Toilets (HET) of 1.28 gallons or less per flush.
  • High Efficiency Clothes Washer -- The City offers a rebate to our residential customers who purchase High Efficiency Clothes Washers (HECW) with a Water Factor of 6.0 or less as listed on the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) web page. Other specific conditions also apply.

Commercial Rebates for Business

  • High Efficiency Toilets (HET) -- The City offers a rebate to commercial customers who replace inefficient toilets with qualifying High Efficiency Toilets (HET) of 1.28 gallons per flush or less and as labeled by the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense Program.

For residential and commerical rebate applications and qualifying information, please click on Rebates under Conservation at www.fresnowater.org or call 621-5480.

Other Services for all customers

Up to 70% of water used can be for landscape irrigation, and much of it is wasted. The City of Fresno Water Division provides landscape related services for water customers, including consultations and information to help save water in the yards of homes or businesses.

Free Services include:

  • Landscape irrigation efficiency assessments -- Water-wise landscape irrigation efficiency assessments for residential or commercial/industrial customers.
  • Landscape consultations -- Our specialists can provide Valley friendly water-wise landscape design consultations for your garden as well as plant literature.
  • Set irrigation timers -- Learn to set landscape irrigation timers. We visit your site and teach you how to set your timer.
  • Interior & Exterior Leak Surveys -- Conservation representatives can check for water leaks and other water inefficiencies for residential or commercial/industrial customers. Free low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators and other water saving items may be available for those taking advantage of this service.

The City of Fresno's Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Water Conservation Program provides local businesses with the above services along with information on improved water use efficiency technologies to develop and implement water conservation measures and reduce demand.

According to a recent nationwide survey, the City of Fresno's water rates are 52% below the national median rates when compared with other cities of similar size.

City of Fresno water customers enjoy high-quality, clean water at low rates. City of Fresno customers pay, on average, a monthly water rate of only $28.33, compared with San Francisco’s $89.57 and San Diego's $95.48. The following graph depicts monthly water rates in California cities with a water population above 200,000.

When it comes to public utilities, Fresno residents receive a great value unmatched by other cities. We are doing everything we can to provide and maintain a sustainable supply of clean, safe water for present and future generations; recognizing water is directly connected to our City's prosperity. As partners with us, in managing your water system and resources, we encourage each of you to do your part and take personal responsibility to help conserve our community's water.

For more information, go to www.fresnowater.org.

The City of Fresno has taken a giant leap in the water meter installation project by approving the purchase of water meters with automatic meter read (AMR) technology for residential water customers. The City awarded the contract to Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) in January 2010. Over the next three years, the City will be installing meters at approximately 111,000 residences. The new meters will be placed inside a meter box, and will be read remotely through a fixed, state-of-the-art telemetry system. With the new meters, water customers will only pay for the amount of water they use. As the State of California faces cyclical water shortages these new meters will help the City to be in a better position to meet the 20% water reduction goals declared by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Why Meters?

All City of Fresno water customers are required to pay a metered rate by 2013. The City is on schedule to complete this project on time. Commercial, industrial and multi-family customers are already metered, so this project is for residential customers only. Since 2004, California law mandates the use of water meters for all Central Valley Project (CVP) water users. The City contracts for 60,000 acre feet of CVP water annually, representing approximately 40% of Fresno’s water supply. Due to the lack of surface water treatment capacity and the historical reliance on groundwater, only 12% of the City's water demand is currently being met with the the City's available surface water resources.

How Will My Badger AMR Meter Be Installed?

In the next few months, the City will award the contract for the installation of the meters. An employee from a City of Fresno contracted firm will notify you with a door hanger a few days in advance of the installation. The door hanger will include contact information. If your meter box is located in the front of your house or alleyway, the work should take about 30 minutes, with water interrupted for about 10 minutes. If your meter box is in your backyard, then the contractor will need access to your backyard.

What If I Don't Have A Meter Box Yet?

An employee from a City of Fresno contracted firm will contact you 48 hours prior to installing the meter box. The two contracted firms are Vulcan Construction and Maintenance, Inc., and West Valley Construction. The door hanger will include contact information. In most cases, expect your water service to be shut off for a short time (less than an hour). When the installation is completed, the contractor will flush the lead line until it is clear of debris and clean around the work area. Due to high summer heat, most of the work is expected to occur during the weekdays as early as 6:30 AM, Monday through Friday. Some weekend work may be permitted under special circumstances.

When Will My Water Meter Be Installed?

The meter box installation is in progress. If you have a meter box already, you're likely to be one of the first to receive your meter. The process started in the City's central core and is moving outward in an organized manner. To view a map of completed and current installation areas go to www.fresnowatermeter.org/watkey.pdf

No Hidden Charges

The costs of the meter, meter box and meter reading system are already included your water rates. There will be no special or additional charges.

Water Rates

Residential Water rates consist of a monthly ready-to-serve charge based on the size of your meter, plus a volume charge based on how much water you use. Most households will receive a 1" meter, and the costs work out to be about 1¢ per every 10 gallons of water. Actual charges are shown below.

3/4" meter: $10.03 + 61¢ per 748 gallons

1" meter: $13.51 + 61¢ per 748 gallons

1 1/2" meter: $18.89 + 61¢ per 748 gallons

2" meter: $27.09 + 61¢ per 748 gallons

Note: 748 gallons equals 100 cubic feet of water.

Monthly Billing on the Horizon

The City plans to convert to a monthly utility billing cycle prior to the end of 2010. This means that instead of paying for two months worth of utility services ahead of time, residents will pay a one-month bill for the services received. This conversion will allow the City to read the water meter and then charge for the water usage after the meter has been read. Residents will pay only for the amount of water that they use. All residential utility customers will experience one month without a water and utility bill as the City moves from advance billing to back billing.

Billing Questions

Once the new meters are installed, if there is a question about a bill, the City will have immediate access to your information. Your bill will list how many gallons of water used every month.

Water Usage Monitoring

Additional data is gathered to help with early detection of possible leaks, which if undetected, waste water and cost you money. The City of Fresno has a free service to help identify these potential leaks to help customers save water. Contact water conservation at 621-5480.

Water Conservation

The City will be able to pro-actively monitor water usage on a daily, or multiple times daily, basis upon request. Customers may request a special reading if necessary.

Environmentally-Friendly Readings

The AMR meter with fixed network system is completely automated, so aside from an occasional re-read, there is no need for anyone to drive by or come onto your property in order to read your meter. This is an accurate, convenient and environmentally-friendly way to gather information. Once the transmitter is installed, customers can be assured of a timely and reliable reading resulting in an accurate bill.

Your Information Only

The metering equipment meets all quality and accuracy standards established by the American Water Works Association. The transmitter collects the reading from the meter every six hours, and only transmits the numbers that it records, thus the reading is accurate.

Virtually Maintenance-Free for 20+ Years

The AMR device is fully electronic and needs very little maintenance. If the wire between the meter and the transmitter is cut, it will need to be repaired. Tampering with a water meter is illegal. If you suspect that your meter has been tampered with, please call the Water Division immediately at 621-5300.

For more information, go to www.fresnowatermeter.org.