Two water-related announcements

via Commissioner Rader...

State of Georgia Announces Level 2 Drought Restrictions
DeKalb County residents move to odd/even schedule

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has announced a Level 2 drought response in 52 counties including DeKalb.

For more information, click here.

DeKalb County Adds Water Bill Dispute Locations
DeKalb County residents wishing to dispute their water bills now have additional times and locations throughout the county to begin the dispute process.

In September, DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May issued a moratorium through the end of 2016 on the disconnection of residential water accounts that have been contested through the Utility Customer Operations Center’s Customer Assurance Team.  

For more information, click here. 

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Note: one of the Bill Dispute locations is at North DeKalb Mall

Water Billing Issue Resolution (from DeKalb Co. CEO)

UPDATE: DeKalb Disconnection Moratorium and Billing Dispute FAQ http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/images/waterFAQ.pdf


via Commissioner Rader:

DeKalb Interim CEO, Commissioners Address Water Billing Issues
with New Resolution

New water meter installation halted

DECATUR, Ga. – The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution introduced by DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May which empowers the chief financial officer (CFO) with discretion to address unusually high water bills due to billing or meter errors.

The legislation clarifies code sections 25-106(f) to specify that the CFO has the authority to make adjustments to a customer’s account for billing errors, as long as the dispute was recorded within two years of the billing error itself.

The resolution also stops the installation of the new iPerl water meters and calls for the establishment of convenient bill resolution sites around the county during the moratorium.

Another proactive step addresses excessively high bills. In these cases, Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams has directed the Utility Customer Operations Center to send out estimated bills with messaging that indicates that the county is investigating the cause of the variance. Once a high variance is detected, a work order for a water meter inspection will automatically be generated.

“Sending out estimated bills will let our customers know what is going on with their accounts in a timely manner, as well as provide a mechanism for them to pay their average amount due while we get to the root of the problem,” COO Williams said.  

On Sept. 20, Interim CEO May issued a moratorium through the end of 2016 on the disconnection of residential water accounts that have been contested through the Utility Customer Operations Center.  

Water customers who believe their bill is in error should notify the Utility Customer Operations Center at 774 Jordan Lane in Decatur, or call (404) 371-3000to speak with a customer service representative. Account holders with disputed balances are required to pay their average amount due until the case is resolved, with the balance, if any, due at the time the investigation is complete.  

Further, a third-party dispute process is being developed to provide customers an additional avenue to resolve their disputes. This process will be implemented during the moratorium.

There will be no water service disconnections for customers with account balances in dispute who have paid their average bill through the end of 2016.  

Jeff Rader

Level-One Drought declared for DeKalb County

Per the September Drought Indicators Report (link below), it's dry and expected to stay that way...

The AJC reports that we are on a level-one drought response holding pattern due to low rain levels. We should limit outdoor watering to the hours of 4pm - 10am. According to the AJC, "One inch of rain or water every 7 to 10 days is all your plants need."

See the GA Environmental Protection Division announcement here.

The September Drought Indicators Report for September 2016 is available here.

Flow meter installation announcement from DeKalb Watershed Management

Received by MANA; please address questions to Mr. James (information follows).

Dear Association Representative:

Dekalb County has reached a Clean Water Act settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the form of a Consent Decree.  The attached letter will provide residents with details of the upcoming Flow Meter Installation project.  This is the first in a series of on going projects associated with the Consent Decree.

It is our goal to keep residents informed of the activities which may be taking place in their neighborhoods.

Click to enlarge.

Please share with your association members via your website, newsletter, or other means of communication.

Thanks in advance.

-- 
John F. James
Project Manager
Consent Decree Program Management Team

CERM | Corporate Environmental Risk Management
Engineers nSurveyors n Planners nManagers n Scientists

2296 Henderson Mill Road, Suite 200 | Atlanta, GA 30345 | www.cerm.com

p 678.999.0173 | m 678-524-4176| f678.999.0186

Rain Barrel workshop [Feb 27]

Posted in DeKalb County's website:

DECATUR – The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management will host a Rain Barrel Workshop for DeKalb County citizens on Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 7 – 8 p.m. at the Wylde Garden Center, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030.

Collecting rain water in rain barrels for use during dry months is an excellent way to conserve water and reduce your water bill. During the workshop, citizens will be instructed on rain barrel maintenance and the importance of water conservation.

The workshop will be open to the first 20 DeKalb County residents who sign up.  This is a “hands-on” workshop where residents will make their own rain barrels with assistance.

The cost of the workshop is $40 and will include all the materials to make a barrel. For more information, contact Michael O’Shield at msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov or 770-724-1456.

DeKalb has additional information on rain barrels--why they are useful, and how to build them:

Rain Barrel Fact Sheet 

How to make your own rain barrel and materials list