Agenda - 02-21-2017 - 4-b - OWASA Annual Update Presentation

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Annual Report 3 January 20, 2017 Page 2 we use to measure the affordability of our services. The average household in our area uses about 4,000 gallons per month of water and sewer service; the annual cost of service at this level is less than 1.5% of median household income. Affordability outreach program On December 8th, we approved the second-year plan for affordability outreach. This program is designed to educate and empower customers to reduce their water use and therefore their monthly water and sewer costs. We are partnering with local agencies and focusing on customers who have received financial assistance towards paying an OWASA bill. In the Care to Share customer assistance program, over 1,000 OWASA customers contribute about $450 per month through on-bill payments. We also encourage citizens to give directly to the Inter-Faith Council. Advanced Metering Infrastructure(AMI) We are moving forward with evaluating and identifying a vendor and system for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)in our community. AMI is a system that allows for remote meter reading via radio transmissions, which in turn allows for more frequent meter readings and faster leak detection. After conducting a feasibility study and engaging the community, the OWASA Board determined that such a system would be beneficial to the utility and community and would not require a rate increase. The Board decided to move forward with requesting proposals. In December 2016, staff received and began evaluating proposals. Early in 2017, we will select a team to provide and install an AMI system. We estimate that installing the new system for all 22,000 meters in our system will take about two years after the vendor begins. We will continue to inform and engage our customers as we move forward with the installation or consider any proposed policy changes related to AMI. Drinking water quality In 2016, we again met all Federal and State standards for the quality of our drinking water including requirements to test for over 150 substances and to report results to the State. In August, we received the Partnership for Safe Water's award for five consecutive years of "Excellence in Water Treatment." The Partnership is an unprecedented alliance of six prestigious drinking water organizations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency. This achievement demonstrates our outstanding commitment to delivering superior quality drinking water to our customers. In response to requests from customers, OWASA staff tested the water quality at 89 homes and businesses and provided written reports of these results. We continue to offer free lead testing to our customers. In 2016, 58 customers took advantage of this service. Additionally, we partnered with Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and local childcare facilities to test almost 200 water samples for lead. All samples were well below the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. We