Board reviews usage data after outlier reading; developer allocation questions remain unresolved

Staff told the board that water-usage data provided earlier included one apparent outlier that reported about 277,700 gallons for a single year at one address — far higher than other readings — and said the consultant (Tom Windinger and associated staff were identified in the record) will attempt to provide additional meter data so the district can analyze average usage more accurately.

Board members and staff agreed the outlier likely represents a bad meter read, a data-entry error or an unexplained leak; staff said they would inspect the manhole and the customer's meter and follow up. Staff said typical household average usage in their experience is much lower (on the order of 4,000–4,500 gallons per month in comparable systems), and that the state's planning-design assumptions (which presume higher peak rates) often err on the side of caution when sizing treatment plants.

The usage-data discussion ties to a pending allocation question involving a developer (identified in discussion as Tom Windinger). Staff said the developer is concerned about releasing allocations because doing so could limit his future commitments if available flow is reserved; staff said the developer has been willing to discuss the matter but is cautious until additional data clarify the district's actual per-unit usage. Staff said the developer was provided a construction permit and a sanitary-certification filing, and that signatures on those documents indicate the district previously certified available capacity at the time of permitting. The board agreed to request additional data and to bring the developer into follow-up discussions once the usage dataset is expanded and reviewed.