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Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency

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Flowmeter Requirements

The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA) mandates the use of flowmeters to monitor groundwater extractions across its jurisdiction. These requirements are part of the Agency’s commitment to sustainable groundwater management and accurate reporting.

Who needs a flowmeter?

According to Agency Ordinance Code Section 3.1.1 and Resolution 2019-02, flowmeters must be installed on all groundwater extraction facilities prior to extraction, except in the following cases:

  • Wells registered with FCGMA as inactive, meaning they are pumped no more than 8 hours in any 12-month period.
  • Extraction facilities verified as serving a single-family dwelling on one acre or less, with no income-producing operations.

All flowmeters must be:

  • Installed according to manufacturer specifications
    • Must submit proof of flowmeter accuracy within 30 days of installation.
  • Calibrated to demonstrate ±5% accuracy every three years.

Operators must submit:

  • A Flowmeter Calibration Form, and calibration results from an Agency-approved contractor.
  • Proof of installation or repair through a Flowmeter Update Form, including photos, serial numbers, and invoices.
  • If the extraction facility is inactive as defined in the Agency Ordinance Code or the extraction facility serves a single-family dwelling on one acre or less, with no income producing operations, a Flowmeter Exemption Form must be submitted annually.
  • To report any flowmeter changes to the Agency – including, but not limited to, replacement, multiplier adjustment, unit adjustment, meter register (face) changes, or reset – complete all fields on the Flowmeter Update Form.
  • Notify the Agency two weeks prior to any maintenance requiring flowmeter removal.
  • If piping configuration changes, the flowmeter must be retested and recalibrated.
  • Broken or inaccurate flowmeters must be reported to the Agency and fixed within 30 days of failure.
  • Agency staff may inspect flowmeter installations with 24-hour notice.

Per the AMI Ordinance, all flowmeters must be equipped with AMI telemetry with exception of eligible domestic operators to enable real-time data reporting, in accordance with Resolution 2018-01 and the AMI Domestic Operator Exemption Ordinance.

Per Sections 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of the Agency Ordinance Code:

3.1.2    Flowmeter Failure and Back-up Measurement Requirements – Flowmeters occasionally fail, losing periods of record before the disabled or inaccurate meter is either replaced or repaired. When a flowmeter fails, the operator shall repair or replace the flowmeter within the timeframe specified in a separate Resolution. Flowmeter failures and associated repairs or replacements shall be reported to the Agency together with any other information required by the Executive Officer on or before the due date of the next Semi-Annual Groundwater Extraction Statement. Well operators shall be prepared to provide another acceptable method of computing extractions during these periods of flowmeter failure to avoid the loss of record on wells that require flowmetering under this Ordinance Code.

3.1.3    Back-up Methods – It is the operator’s responsibility to maintain the flowmeter.

 

Meter repair or replacement following a meter failure should be reported to the Agency using a Flowmeter Update Form. Complete the Groundwater Usage Estimate portion to report methods used to compute extractions during the period of meter failure.

Per sections 3.3 through 3.6 of the Agency Ordinance Code:

3.3        Altering Flowmeters

Any person who alters, removes, resets, adjusts, manipulates, obstructs, or in any manner interferes or tampers with any flowmeter affixed to any groundwater extraction facility required by this Ordinance Code, resulting in said flowmeter to improperly or inaccurately measure and record groundwater extractions, is guilty of an intentional violation of Agency Ordinance Code and will be subject to any and all penalties as described in Chapter 8 of the Ordinance Code.

3.4    Costs of Testing and Calibration

All costs incurred with flowmeter testing or calibration shall be the personal obligation of the well owner.  Non-compliance with any provision of the flowmeter calibration requirements will subject the owner to financial penalties and/or liens as described in the Ordinance Code.

3.5        Fees and Enforcement

If any water extraction facility required to have a flowmeter within the Agency’s boundaries is used to produce water without a flowmeter or with a non-operating flowmeter in excess of the allowable timeframe specified in a separate Resolution, the Groundwater Extraction Charge is increased to the Non-Metered Water Use Fee.  The amount of the fee shall be calculated as follows:

3.5.1      Groundwater Extraction Facilities – The fee shall be equal to double the current groundwater extraction charge for all estimated water used.  Estimates of water used shall be calculated by the operator and approved by the Executive Officer or calculated by the Agency using best available information about site use and conditions. Any delinquent Non-Metered Water Use Fee obligations shall also be charged interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month on any unpaid balances.

3.6       

Upon violation of any flowmeter provision, the Agency may, as allowed by law, petition the Superior Court of the County for a temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction prohibiting the well owner from operating the facility or for such other injunctive relief as may be appropriate.

The following forms and resources can be found under the “Flowmeter Forms” drop-down menu on https://fcgma.org/agency-forms/:

  • Flowmeter Update Form
  • Flowmeter Update Form Instructions
  • Spanish Language Flowmeter Update Forms
  • Flowmeter Calibration Form
  • Approved Calibration Contractors
  • Flowmeter Exemption Form


For further information, please review: