Single family residential customers of Trabuco Canyon Water District (TCWD) may request to downsize the existing water meter that serves their property by submitting the Application for Water Meter Downsizing to TCWD with the required information.  The water meter downsizing application will be reviewed by TCWD staff to determine if this request can be accommodated.  Please be advised that if your property is equipped with a fire sprinkler system and you wish to downsize your water meter, you will be required to seek prior approval from the Orange County Fire Authority.

CORRESPONDENCE TO LARGE-METER RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
TCWD sent a letter (hyperlink) dated February 14, 2024 to residential customers with 1.5" and 2" water meters to raise awareness of the Program and provide helpful and factual information. The letter addresses the most commonly posed questions about the Meter Downsizing Program and also provides helpful suggestions.

 METER DOWNSIZING FORMS

The documents accessible on this page are intended to help TCWD customers understand and complete the process to apply for a change in the size of their water meter: 

Application for Water Meter Downsizing (hyperlink)

Water Meter Downsizing Worksheet (hyperlink)

Water Meter Notice and Indemnity Agreement (hyperlink)

Hardcopies of the above forms are also available at the customer service window of TCWD’s Administrative Offices at 32003 Dove Canyon Drive.

INTRUCTIONS FOR METER RESIZING

1. Complete the Application for Water Meter Downsizing. This may require first contacting Orange County Fire Authority if the property is served by a fire sprinkler system. See “Properties with Fire Sprinkler Systems” below for more information. OCFA will notify TCWD as to whether the request is approved.
2. Complete the Water Meter Downsizing Worksheet using the instructions provided on the worksheet.
3. Submit both the Application and Worksheet to TCWD’s Customer Service Department either in-person, or via email at customerservice@tcwd.ca.gov
4. TCWD will respond within 10 business days.
   1. If the Application is approved, TCWD will schedule the meter replacement; exact timing of the replacement will be subject to meter inventory and staff availability.
   2. TCWD may request additional information or recommend advice from a qualified professional.
5. The applicant must complete and sign the Water Meter Notice and Indemnity Agreement before the meter is replaced.
6. TCWD will replace the existing meter. There is no charge for the replacement of a meter as part of the downsizing program.
7. TCWD will ensure that the signed Water Meter Notice and Indemnity Agreement is recorded on property title on behalf of the property owner and at no cost to the property owner(s) only if the property owner requests it. 

WHY DOES THIS PROCESS RECOMMEND AN AGREEMENT RECORDED ON PROPERTY?
The Notice and Indemnity Agreement is intended to notify future owners of the property that the water meter size has been changed from the prior plans for the property, at the owner’s request. The owner, not TCWD, is responsible for any claims that the meter size is not sufficient for the property.  The form must be signed by the owner(s) of the property.  Should the property owner elect to have the agreement recorded, TCWD can arrange for the recording of the document at no cost to the owner.

PROPERTIES WITH FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Orange County Fire Authority has the authority to review meter downsizing requests for properties with fire sprinkler systems. Applicants with fire sprinklers should first contact one of the following OCFA Fire Safety Engineers to understand what is required for their particular property. Providing a name and property address will help expedite the process.

ADJUSTMENTS TO FIXED METER CHARGE
Fixed meter charges are assessed monthly according to meter size (flow capacity). If a water meter is replaced as part of this program, the adjusted fixed charge associated with the smaller meter size will be assessed retroactively to the beginning of the month in which the completed application is submitted to TCWD.  

Note: for any approved meter downsizing requests that were submitted to TCWD prior to the availability of the Water Meter Downsizing Program, the adjusted fixed charge will be assessed retroactively to the beginning of the month in which the initial request was received by TCWD.

Any difference between the prior fixed charge and the adjusted fixed charge over the retroactive period will be credited to a customer’s monthly bill on the next billing cycle.     

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please contact TCWD’s Customer Service Representatives for additional assistance:
Customerservice@tcwd.ca.gov
(949) 858-0277 

Updated: 02-20-2024

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