Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-21.6 - Meter testing for water service
(1)
Periodic and routine
tests. Each utility shall adopt schedules approved by the board for
periodic and routine tests and repair of its meters.
(2)
Meter test facilities and
equipment. Each utility furnishing metered service shall provide the
necessary standard facilities, instruments, and other equipment for testing its
meters, or contract for test of its meters by another utility or agency
equipped to test meters subject to approval by the board.
(3)
Accuracy requirements.
All meters shall be in good mechanical condition. All meters shall be accurate
to the following standards:
a.
Test
flow limits. For determination of minimum test flow and normal test
flow limits, the utility shall use as a guide the appropriate standard
specifications of the American Water Works Association for the various types of
meters.
b.
Accuracy
limits. A meter shall not be placed in service if it registers less
than 95 percent of the volume passed through it at the minimum test flow, or
overregisters or underregisters more than 1.5 percent at the intermediate or
maximum limit.
(4)
Initial test and storage of meters. Every meter shall be
tested prior to its installation either by the manufacturer, the utility, or an
organization equipped for meter testing.
If a meter is not stored as recommended by the manufacturer, the meter shall be tested immediately before installation.
(5)
As found tests. To
determine the average meter error in accordance with these rules for periodic
or complaint tests, meters shall be tested in the condition as found in the
customer's service. Tests shall be made at intermediate and maximum rates of
flow, and the meter error shall be the algebraic average of the errors of the
two tests.
(6)
Request
tests. A utility shall test any meter upon written request of a
customer. The utility will not be required to perform request tests more than
once each 18 months. The customer shall be given the opportunity to be present
at the request tests.
(7)
Board-ordered tests. The board shall order tests of meters as
follows:
a.
Application. Upon
written application to the board by a customer or a utility, a test shall be
made of the customer's meter as soon as practicable.
b.
Guarantee. The
application shall be sent by certified or registered mail and accompanied by a
certified check or money order made payable to the utility in the amount
indicated below:
(1) Capacity of 80 gallons
per minute or less.......................................... $24
(2) Capacity over 80 gallons, up to 120
gallons per minute.............................. $26
(3) Capacity of over 120 gallons per
minute.......................................... $30
c.
Conduct of test. On
receipt of a request from a customer, the board shall forward the deposit to
the utility and notify the utility of the requirement for the test. The utility
shall not knowingly remove or adjust the meter until tested. The utility shall
furnish all instruments, load devices, and other facilities necessary for the
test and shall perform the test and shall furnish verification of the accuracy
of test instruments used.
d.
Test results. If the tested meter is found to overregister to
an extent requiring a refund under the provisions of
21.4(6)"a," the amount paid to the utility shall be returned
to the customer by the utility.
e.
Notification. The utility shall notify the customer in advance
of the date and time of the board-ordered test.
f.
Utility report. The
utility shall make a written report of the results of the test. The report
shall be sent to the customer and to the board.
(8)
Sealing of meters. Upon
completion of adjustment and test of any water meter the utility shall place a
suitable register seal on the meter in a manner that adjustment or registration
of the meter cannot be changed without breaking the seal.
(9)
Record of meter tests.
Meter test records shall include:
a. The date
and reason for the test.
b. The
meter reading prior to any test.
c.
The accuracy as found at each of the flow rates required by
21.6(3)"a."
d. The
accuracy as left at each of the flow rates required by
21.6(3)"a."
e.
Statement of any repairs.
f. If the
meter test is made using a standard meter, the utility shall retain all data
taken at the time of the test sufficient to permit the convenient checking of
the test method, calculations, and traceability to the National Bureau of
Standards' volumetric standardization.
The test records of each meter shall be retained for two consecutive periodic tests or at least for two years. A record of the test made at the time of the meter's retirement, if any, shall be retained for a minimum of three years.
Notes
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