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Utility report shows high water loss and meter math pushing TCEQ equivalents toward limit
Summary
The city reported 1,855,000 gallons pumped, 1,210,620 gallons sold and 544,380 gallons identified as water loss (about 29.35%). Officials said there are 232 active meters and that TCEQ 'meter math' raises the equivalent meter count to about 265; staff are exploring standby charges for abandoned meters.
The December utility report provided to the Burton City Council lists 1,855,000 gallons pumped during the month and 1,210,620 gallons sold, with 544,380 gallons recorded as water loss — a reported water-loss percentage of about 29.35 percent. The report also lists 232 active meters and explains that TCEQ-equivalent meter calculations (for multi-unit customers such as an apartment complex and the school district) raise the meter-equivalent count to approximately 265 plus an undetermined additional 'X' for the school district.
City staff and engineers told council the plant infrastructure has capacity to serve about a 375 TCEQ-meter equivalent, but the city is close enough to the regulatory meter cap that staff said they are preparing groundwork to charge unused or abandoned meters a standby fee to reduce the meter count. The minutes note ongoing work in summer 2024 to locate abandoned meters and an October 2024 capping of Water Well #3 per TCEQ standards.
