20110329Staff 1-23 to BRN.pdf

Brian Water Company
Meeting with Tony Bowar, Owner
March 23, 2011
RECË/VED
ZOUHAR 29 PH /: 00
REQUESTS/QUESTIONS:
REQUEST NO.1: Please provide a copy of map showing the general layout of Brian
Water System including wells and pumps, main/distrbution systems and general area/lots
served by the Company.
REQUEST NO.2: The Company indicated in its 2010 Anual Report that it provides
water service to 46 residential customers. Please confirm if this total number of
customers is still 46 to date.
REQUEST NO.3: Durng the Company's latest rate case (BRN-W-07-01), Staff
recommended and the Commission agreed (Order No. 30516) that a master meter on the
Company's primary well (Well No. I-newer well drlled in 1974) and backup well (Well
NO.2-older well drlled in -?) be installed. Please confirm if these meters have been
installed and the date they were installed. If not, please explain why they were not
installed.
REQUEST NO.4: Please provide copy of well driler's report for Well NO.2 (older
well).
REQUEST NO.5: Staff also recommended and the Commission agreed (Order No.
30516) that that the Company initiate a program of testing and replacement of individual
meters. Please confirm if such program was initiated by the Company and explain the
status of the program. If not, please explain why they were not initiated.
REQUEST NO.6: Staff understands that the Idaho Deparent of Environmental
Quality conducted a Sanitary Survey of the Company's water system in 2008 and that
several significant deficiencies were discovered. Please explain the status of these system
deficiencies and Company actions to these deficiencies have been accepted or approved
byIDEQ.
REQUEST NO.7: Please provide the name oflicensed operator for the Brian Water.
Please provide proof that the operator's license is curent.
REQUEST NO.8: Ifthe flow meters at the wellheads as noted in Request NO.3 were
installed, please provide the total monthly volumes of water pumped from each meter
since thòse meters were installed.
REQUEST NO.9: If no flow meters were installed, pleased provide the approximate
percentage of the total volume of water pumped from each well during the test period
(2010).
REQUEST NO. 10: Please provide average monthly water consumption data for all
customers served and the appropriate total for five calendar years including 2005,2006,
2007,2008,2009 and 2010.
REQUEST NO. 11: Please provide monthly billng information for each customer
showing the volume of water sold and the amount of bil for three calendar years
including 2008, 2009 and 2010.
REQUEST NO. 12: The Company did not propose any changes in rate design. Please
explain the Company's rationale for maintaining the 4,000 gallons as the minimum
charge volume allowance.
REQUEST NO. 13: The Company proposes to raise its minimum customer charge from
$12.50 to $18.00 but did not propose an increase in commodity charge. Please explain the
Company's rationale why no adjustment was proposed for the commodity charge.
REQUEST NO. 14: Durng the Company's last rate case (BRN-W-07-01), the
Commission directed the Company to read meters and bill customers on a monthly
schedule. Commission Order No. 30516. Please confirm that this directive was
implemented. If not, please explain why not.
REQUEST NO. 15: For the purpose of estimating future revenues, please provide the
total monthly excess usage per customer for calendar years 2008, 2009, and 2010.
REQUEST NO. 16: Please provide list of all water quality tests for all water sources
(wells) and within the distrbution system that violated water quality standards
promulgated by the Idaho Deparent of Environmental Quality and EPA durng the
calendar year 2008,2009 and 2010.
REQUEST NO. 17: Please provide copy of any letters/notices received from IDEQ
requiring the Company to meet water quality standards due to water quality violations
within the Company's water drinking water system and your response(s) to IDEQ.
REQUEST NO. 18: The Company indicated in the Application that DEQ has directed
Brian Water to develop a longer range solution to keep the nitrate levels of the water
below the EPA's maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/l and that a new deeper
well seems to be the best option. Please respond to the following questions.
a. Please provide an engineering study describing this alternative
b. Please provide the specification of the proposed well
c. Please provide groundwater/geological study that provides reasonable
conclusion that drlling a well at targeted depth would be relatively free from
nitrate contamination
d. Please provide detailed cost estimates or bids for the drllng the well and well
development/testing
e. Please provide detailed cost estimates or bids for the installation of pump and
motor, electrical/controls, mainline tie-in, other appurtenances, building
facility and engineering.
REQUEST NO. 19: Did the Company analyze other alternatives to solve the high nitrate
levels in its water supply? If yes, please describe the various options analyzed and the
total costs of each option, and the reasons why any of these alternatives analyzed were
not selected.
REQUEST NO. 20: If the response to Request No. 19 is No, please provide justification
or explanation why the Company considered drilling a new well is the best option.
REQUEST NO. 21: Please explain how you plan to finance the drlling and developing
a new well, and installing the pump and motor and other appurenances. Have you
explored varous financing options (IDEQ Drinking Water Revolving Fund, IDWR
Financing Program, NR W AlSDA, private bans)? Have you explored pos~ible grants
for conducting engineering study? .
REQUEST NO. 22: Please explain the key steps you propose to follow to cpmplete the
project from conception to actual operation and your time table in completin~ the project.
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REQUEST NO. 23: The Company Application indicates that the proposed tate would be
more in line with other water systems. Please provide proofs for this claim.
GDG..End