City Committee Will Look at Water Leaks

Pasadena Water and Power has proposed a Water Leak Assistance Program for customers who may be experiencing water leaks on their private property that they may not be aware of, until they are notified through a high-usage letter or through a utility bill with unusually high charges for water service.

The proposal goes before the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee Tuesday, July 28, during a virtual meeting that begins at 4 p.m. Members of the community may access the meeting online and submit public comment as well. 

PWP currently has no policy nor procedure to allow for bill adjustments, which some customers have often inquired about due to unusually high water bills that later turn out to be the result of leaks on their property. In many cases, customers often say they were not aware of the leaks because these were difficult to detect, or the leaks occurred while they were away. 

With the proposed Water Leak Assistance Program, PWP aims to seek authorization to allow reasonable adjustments – meaning reductions – to water service charges, within certain defined circumstances. 

The bill adjustments as a result of applying the Water Leak Adjustment policy, once approved, will be funded by revenues that are derived from non-retail rate sources, primarily from rental fees for property owned and operated by the water system, PWP said in a report for the Municipal Services Committee. 

If the program gets the City Council’s approval, which could happen as soon as next week,, customers who are experiencing leaks or have experienced them recently can fill out a  Water Leak Assistance Request Form where they can specify the billing period during which they request adjustment in the fees, after providing information on the leak, including whether the customer has requested repair work on it. 

PWP’s General Manager can then address occasional requests from customers who have experienced excessive water loss resulting in high water bills from leaks on their property. 

PWP said it is looking at funding in the amount of $50,000 per fiscal year to cover the bill adjustments under the program, according to the report. 

The virtual meeting Tuesday will be accessible through http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 and www.pasadenamedia.org. 

The public can submit comments by emailing vflores@cityofpasadena.net before the meeting.