OCR Text |
Show type meter using a strain gauge to measure flow. The meter was tested over an irrigation season and found to have acceptable accuracy and reliability if the meter could be protected from severe temperature fluctuations. Materials for USU to construct the meter cost an estimated $ 100. Anticipated costs for further development, materials and production of this type of meter for sale and distribution may be $ 200 per meter. If the Central Utah Water Conservancy District is going to require metering of secondary systems, it should fund the research necessary to develop and market a reliable and reasonbly priced meter or postpone the implementation of this requirement until a reliable, inexpensive meter is available. Water Conservation Similar to the M& I and the agricultural sectors, metering or measurement of water use has very little to no impact on water conservation in the secondary water use sector unless measurement occurs and additional criteria, programs, and/ or controls are provided that encourage water conservation. To fully achieve the intent of water conservation in secondary systems through metering or measurement of water use, other programs, controls and/ or limitations are necessary. Some of the other programs, controls and/ or limitations are: • Development of cost permissive meters ( such as the meter researched by USU) for metering individual connections, and instituting a program of reading the meters to monitor individual water use during the irrigation season. • Instituting an extensive reporting and billing program based on actual water use determined by meter readings and rate structures. • Promoting the installation of timed sprinkler systems for those connected to secondary water systems that will result in more efficient use of the water. Little impact toward additional water conservation through metering or measurement practices alone will be noticed since current water use generally does not exceed allocated water rights. Not much information is available concerning the potential for water conservation resulting from metering or measuring secondary water use and applying an applicable rate structure. As indicated previously, the Lake Chelan Reclamation District in Central Washington State has a policy of metering all agricultural connections and charging for water use based on a graduated rate schedule. Data from this district indicates a similar reduction in water use occurs from metering or measuring agricultural connections with applied rate structures as can be expected from metering domestic connections - approximately a 20 percent water savings ( Stephen, Gulick, and Johnson, 1992). Since a similar reduction in water use was found for the M& I sector as well as the agricultural sector, this potential reduction will also be assumed for the secondary water use sector. Water savings that may be achieved by metering, provided that other programs and controls are also implemented, were estimated assuming the average lot size served by secondary connections is 1/ 4- acre, the average water right duty is 3.5 acre- feet per acre per year and the average savings that may be achieved is 20 percent. Based on these assumptions, current secondary water use for 80,000 connections is 56,000 acre- feet per year. The reduction in water use could be 11,200 acre- feet per year. Assuming meters can be developed, produced, sold and installed for $ 300 to $ 400 per connection, and assuming a 10- year meter life 33 |