• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
  • ENGINEERS
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • PRODUCTS
  • FEATURED PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
  • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
  • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • WATER TREATMENT
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
  • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
  • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
  • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
  • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
  • CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
  • FIRE PROTECTION
  • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
  • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
  • PME COLUMNS
  • PME COLUMNS
  • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
  • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
  • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
  • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
  • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
  • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
  • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
  • CODES
  • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
  • PROJECT PROFILES
  • COLUMNS
  • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • COLUMNS
  • Codes Corner
  • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
  • Guest Editorial
  • MEDIA
  • EBOOKS
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
  • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
  • DIRECTORIES
  • PM BOOKSTORE
  • CE CENTER
  • MARKET RESEARCH
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
  • EMAGAZINE
  • ARCHIVE ISSUES
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • FEATURED PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • EBOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!
Columns

Water Utility Problems

By Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
July 2, 2008


Water utilities are like other utilities; they are legal monopolies. In our free enterprise society, monopolies don’t make sense. But, our government allows certain monopolies for the good of the public.

When you hear that a monopoly is for the good of the public, you probably think that their first responsibility is to the public. However, when you have problems, you probably wondered if they are serving the public or their shareholders.

As I travel this great country, I hear about problems with local water utilities. These complaints relate to the size of the water service, the size of the water meter, the cost of hookups and the fees for standby water service.

Let me start by saying that I am very fortunate. My local water utility is excellent. Furthermore, the water utilities in the region also are excellent. They work very well with the construction community, whether with the engineer or contractor.

For this reason, it distresses me to hear about the problems in other parts of the country. Having lived in an area where they are good, I realize that all water utilities can be the same way.

Water Meters

A water meter is the sacred cow for water utilities. They rely on the water meter to record the amount of water used by the consumer and bill them accordingly. They also assure that the meter is installed properly so that the consumer cannot steal water. These are all noble concerns. We in the industry should be working with the utility to assure that water is not stolen.

In residential buildings, there has been a significant increase in the number of dwelling units having residential sprinkler systems. This phenomenon will only continue, as more and more jurisdictions require residential sprinklers for all dwelling units.

These systems are either a stand-alone system or multipurpose piping systems whereby the sprinklers and plumbing water distribution system are one in the same. Whether a stand-alone or a multipurpose piping system, the water supply to the sprinkler system flows through the water meter. Unlike a plumbing system, a residential sprinkler system can have a high flow rate. You will see flow rates that range from 8 gpm to 52 gpm or more.

A standard water meter used throughout the country has been a 5/8-inch meter. Of course, there is a 3/4-inch water service connected to the meter. The reason that water utilities originally installed 5/8-inch meters was to have accuracy in recording the flow of water to a building.

Water meter reliability was the concern. However, today the water meters are far better products. There really is no reason for continuing the practice of installing 5/8-inch meters. A modern 3/4-inch meter is more accurate than the older versions.

One of the problems with 5/8-inch meters is that they do not permit a high flow rate. Some 5/8-inch meters are listed for a maximum flow rate of 20 gpm. Newer models go as high as 30 gpm.

Adding Sprinklers

If you have a sprinkler system with a higher flow rate, you need a larger meter. A 3/4-inch meter can typically handle the flow for any residential sprinkler system. However, in some cases, a 1-inch meter is preferred to reduce the friction resistance through the meter.

This is where the water utility problem begins. There are water utilities that significantly increase the cost of a hookup when the meter is increased in size from 5/8 inch to 3/4 inch. When I say significant, I have heard of fees that range from $500 to $2,000 more for the larger meter. That is outrageous! Furthermore, there is absolutely no justification for such a fee.

Hearing these fees, one would think that a 3/4-inch meter is that much higher in price for the utility to purchase. However, it is not. For some meters, the price is the same. There are even water meter manufacturers that think it is time to do away with 5/8-inch meters.

To add insult to injury, some utilities charge a stand-by fee to homeowners that have residential sprinkler systems. This is absurd. Most states make such a practice illegal. If your state does not make the practice of stand-by charges for residential sprinklers illegal, it is time for you to take action.

The stupidity of this concept is that a water utility is charging a hefty fee just in case you decide to use water. Imagine having to pay your local gas station a fee every year just in case you use more gasoline for a short period of time. That is what the utility would be asking.

The other reason this practice is wrong is that in the event of a fire in the home, a minimal amount of water from the sprinkler system will control the fire. If there wasn’t a sprinkler system, the fire department would hook up to a fire hydrant and use a much larger quantity of water. Imagine going from 13 gpm for a sprinkler system to a small hose line flowing 150 gpm. Add a few more hose lines and you are quickly over 500 gpm.

The water utility must provide this water for the fire department. So, they can cut back on the water demand for the area if every home is “sprinklered.” In reality, they should charge the homeowners less since they can have smaller mains.

Again, I am lucky, my water utility doesn’t think this way. They understand that residential sprinkler systems are good for the community and do not use more water. When I asked for a larger meter on a recent project, the utility said, “Fine, no additional charge.” This is the way it should be across the country. You need to work with all the contractors, engineers, homebuilders and developers in your area to make sure this takes place.

For all the good utilities out there, thank-you.

Links

  • Contact Plumbing & Mechanical

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Ballancojuliusvwhite 200

Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE, is president of J.B. Engineering and Code Consulting, P.C. in Munster, Ind. He can be reached at by email at jbengineer@aol.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Worker using the Milwaukee Tool SWITCH PACK drain cleaner

    Pipeline profits: Drain cleaning, pipe inspection create opportunities

    Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
  • Uponor employee, Arturo Moreno

    The reinvestment in American manufacturing and training

    Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster
  • March 2024 Women in Plumbing hero image of woman engineer overlayed by circle of hexagon shapes with numbers from 1 to 10

    Celebrating 10 Influential Women in the Plumbing Industry

    Celebrating Women's History Month and Women in...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Unlock the future of plumbing trends with Plumbing & Mechanical.

REGISTER TODAY

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine
  • Manage My Preferences

NIBCO Press Solutions

NIBCO Press Solutions

IPEX celebrates grand opening of new Florida distribution center

IPEX celebrates grand opening of new Florida distribution center

Bell & Gossett Illustrates Path to Net-zero at AHR Expo

Bell & Gossett Illustrates Path to Net-zero at AHR Expo

AI can boost efficiency and profitability for plumbing, HVAC contractors

AI can boost efficiency and profitability for plumbing, HVAC contractors

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Plumbing & Mechanical or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • J.J. Keller CMV vehicles on road
    Sponsored byJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

    The dash cam game-changer for small business safety

Popular Stories

Integrate a heat pump with a boiler mounted on a brick wall.

How to integrate a heat pump with a boiler for dual temperature hydronic heating and cooling

Plumber using the DEWALT 20V MAX* Plastic Tubing Cutter to cut a white tube.

Making tough jobs easier: Most-used tools by plumbers in 2025

RCR Spring2025 Geothermal JHJ manifold-2

Geothermal and radiant: An energy-efficient powerhouse

Nominations for Plumbing & Mechanical's NextGen ALL-Stars are now open. Submit your nomination TODAY!

PM Aalberts August 14 Free Webinar: Precision Under Pressure: Optimizing System Performance Through Balancing and Air Removal

Events

November 13, 2024

Future Proofing MEP: Navigating the 2026 High Efficiency Water Heating Standards

Join our deep dive into DOE’s new standards so you can future-proof your MEP practice.

EARN: 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 PDH

August 14, 2025

Precision Under Pressure: Optimizing System Performance Through Balancing and Air Removal

We’ll cover how proper air separation and hydronic balancing help maximize operational efficiency, reduce maintenance and minimize downtime.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Will business be up or down in 2025?

Do you anticipate business in 2025 to be up or down in comparison to 2024?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Water Came To A Stop

The Water Came To A Stop

See More Products

2025 Bath & Kitchen Pro eBook

Related Articles

  • Julius Ballanco

    Oversized drain lines pose problems in plumbing systems

    See More
  • Venting Dangers of Water Heaters

    See More
  • Ballanco

    Potable water protection in commercial buildings

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • pocketfullsteamproblm.gif

    A Pocketful of Steam Problems (with solutions!)

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\Plumbing\new sites\classic_hydronics.gif

    Classic Hydronics - How To Get The Most From Those Older Hot-Water Heating Systems

  • alternative water sources.jpg

    Alternative Water Sources and Wastewater Management

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • May 29, 2014

    Coffee with Caleffi and John Siegenthaler: Air Source and Water Source Heat Pump Systems.

    Coffee with Caleffi will be hosted by John Siegenthaler on May 29, 2014.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Keep your content unclogged with our newsletters!

Stay in the know on the latest plumbing & piping industry trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Supply House Times
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • FEATURED PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • EBOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!