Department
Public Works
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between Fulton County and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (MNGWPD) for participation in the District-wide Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program administered by MNGWPD and pursuant to the requirements of the MNGWPD’s Water Resource Management Plan in the amount of $18,000.00 for 18 months; to authorize the Chairman to execute the Memorandum of Agreement; and to authorize the County Attorney to approve the Memorandum of Agreement as to form and to make modifications thereto in order to protect the interests of Fulton County prior to execution. Effective July 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025. (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
O.C.G.A. § 12-5-572 established the MNGWPD and charged it with addressing comprehensive water resource management planning from a regional perspective through policies, plans and intergovernmental coordination. O.C.G.A. § 36-10-1 requires that “[a]ll contracts entered into by the county governing authority with other persons in behalf of the county shall be in writing and entered on its minutes.”
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☐
District 1 ☒
District 2 ☒
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background (First sentence includes Agency recommendation. Provide an executive summary of the action that gives an overview of the relevant details for the item.)
Scope of Work: The Department of Public Works recommends approval of a MOA for participation in the MNGWPD’s Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program as outlined in the MNGWPD's Water Resource Management Plan. The program applies to single-family homes served by Fulton County Water and is administered by the MNGWPD in a similar manner to the single-family High Efficiency Toilet (HET) Rebate program.
In December 2022, the MNGWPD updated the Water Resources Management Plan to include new requirements for water providers within the MNGWPD. One new update was action item WSWC-5 covering Residential Customer Leak Reduction Programs. WSWC-5 requires water providers to participate in a rebate program to customers that install smart leak detection devices. This requirement can be fulfilled by participating in the MNGWPD-facilitated rebate program, which will begin on July 1, 2023 and will run through December 31, 2025, which is the sunset date for this requirement.
The Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program will provide rebates in a 2-tier structure. A $100 rebate will be provided to customers who purchase eligible products with a pre-tax value of $100 or greater. A $50 rebate will be provided to customers who purchase eligible products with a pre-tax value of less than $100. One rebate will be allowed per property. The MNGWPD will maintain the application form, website, and reporting database for the program and will provide administrative services including processing rebate applications, verifying customer eligibility, and notifying customers of confirmation or rejection, similar to the administrative services provided by the MNGWPD in the toilet rebate programs. For the Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program there will be no cost to Fulton County from the MNGWPD to administer these services.
Community Impact: Smart leak detectors can help customers find and fix leaks before they cause major damage to the home or result in high water bills. These devices range from moisture detectors installed near appliances and water fixtures to devices that are installed in or on the customer’s water service line, which can give real time data on water usage. Some devices even allow customers to shut off their water remotely in the event of an emergency. The Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program would make these devices more accessible to customers at a reduced price.
Department Recommendation: The Department of Public Works recommends approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the participation in the District-wide Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program with the MNGWPD.
Project Implications: The implementation of a program to provide customer rebates for smart leak detectors is a requirement of the MNGWPD Water Resource Management Plan. Failure to participate in the program could potentially impact Fulton County’s ability to meet the MNGWPD’s goal of 11% reduction in per capita water usage by 2030.
Community Issues/Concerns: The Department of Public Works is not aware of any issues/concerns raised by the community.
Department Issues/Concerns: The Department of Public Works does not have any issues or concerns with the agreement.
Additional Information:
To protect the interests of the County, the County Attorney shall approve the [e.g., contract, Intergovernmental Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, etc.] as to form and substance, and make any necessary modification, prior to execution by the Chairman.
Fiscal Impact / Funding Source
Funding Line 1:
201-540-5401-1160: Water & Sewer Revenue Fund, Public Works, Professional Services, $18,000.00
Exhibits Attached (Provide copies of originals, number exhibits consecutively, and label all exhibits in the upper right corner.)
Exhibit 1 - Memorandum of Agreement - Smart Leak Detector Rebate Program
Exhibit 2: MNGWPD Water Resource Management Plan, WSWC-5: Residential Customer Leak Reduction Program
Contact Information (Type Name, Title, Agency and Phone)
title
Corlette Banks, Environmental Program Manager, Public Works, 404-612-8097