Evaporative Loss Program
Participants in Austin Water's Evaporative Loss Program must submit monthly makeup and blowdown meter reads, complete annual certifications and reapply every five years. This page contains information on the program's requirements and submission instructions.
Email AWEvapLoss@austintexas.gov for program questions. Include your account number and account name in the subject line.
For additional program information, see the Cooling Tower and Evaporative Loss page.
- Monthly Meter Reads
Submit private meter reads (makeup and blowdown meters) monthly through the online portal on your specified read date. Read dates will be emailed to you upon acceptance into the program. Enter numbers only, decimals and symbols will prevent submission.
- The first month's read is the baseline; the second month's read completes the cycle. Month two is the period in which a wastewater billing adjustment can be calculated.
- Reads must be submitted before close of business on the read date.
- Early reads are not accepted, except when a scheduled read date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or City holiday. In those cases, submit on the prior business day.
- Late reads (not entered on the scheduled submission date) require an exception request (see below).
- A confirmation email will be sent to the primary account contact after submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email, try submitting again or email AWEvapLoss@austintexas.gov as the wastewater adjustment may not have been processed.
Exception requests — Requests to submit a late read must be made within 90 days of the bill date, and the read must be verified to have been collected on the actual read date. Three exceptions are allowed within a rolling 12-month period.
Failure to submit monthly reads will result in wastewater being billed gallon for gallon based on water usage.
Review your monthly billing statement to confirm the wastewater adjustment was processed. Adjusted wastewater volumes should be lower than the water volume billed.
- Reporting Significant Changes
Email AWEvapLoss@austintexas.gov before implementing any of the following changes. Include your account number and account name in the subject line.
- Site configuration changes — require Austin Water review and approval before implementation to avoid disruption of your program participation
- Change in property manager or utility account — notification required
- Sale of property or facility — a new Evaporative Loss Program application must be submitted and approved for wastewater credits to continue
- Account contact updates — at least two contacts are required for account communication; only the primary contact receives read submission confirmation emails
- Annual Requirements
By your annual program anniversary date, submit all of the following:
1. Meter Calibration Certification and supporting meter photographs
- Conducted by one of the companies authorized for submeter calibration testing (PDF)
- Submit the completed submeter calibration testing form (PDF)
Submit updated meter photographs (two per makeup meter and two per blowdown meter at the premise):
- Meter lid (to confirm the meter number)
- Meter register (to confirm the meter read)
2. Cooling Tower Annual Inspection
- Ensure all cooling towers have been registered with the Cooling Tower Efficiency Program and that annual inspections have been completed
- Cooling tower inspection questions: FacEvalSubmit@austintexas.gov
- Water Conservation Office: watercon@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2199
3. Backflow Prevention Assembly Inspection
- Ensure backflow devices are registered and annual inspection certifications have been submitted to the Water Protection Office
- Special Services Division: 512-972-1060
- Five-Year Requirements
Reapplication approval is required before the five-year anniversary of your acceptance letter. Submit the following:
- Completed Evaporative Loss Program application
- Site plans
- If configuration or cooling tower changes have occurred since the last acceptance letter, new plans are required per the Evaporative Loss Plan Review Process (PDF). A site inspection will be performed by Utility Development Services.
- For sites with no changes, provide written confirmation that no cooling tower configuration changes have occurred since the last approval; Austin Water will verify plans in the program database.
- Utility Development Services: 512-974-2882
- Completed submeter calibration testing form (PDF) from one of the authorized vendors (PDF)
- Updated meter photographs (two per makeup meter and two per blowdown meter):
- Meter lid (to confirm the meter number)
- Meter dial (to confirm the meter read)