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national multiple family submetering and allocation billing program ...

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1. Selection of participating study sites: Study sites included Austin, San Antonio,<br />

Hillsborough Co., Denver, Seattle, Portl<strong>and</strong>, Phoenix, Tucson, Oakl<strong>and</strong>, Indianapolis, San<br />

Diego, Las Vegas, <strong>and</strong> Irvine. Participation required the local utility to provide complete<br />

<strong>billing</strong> data for their service area <strong>and</strong> project support.<br />

2. Quality assurance <strong>and</strong> quality control (QAQC): Procedures to ensure the quality of the<br />

data <strong>and</strong> the research methods were implemented throughout the study.<br />

3. Database development: All data collected in this study including historic water <strong>billing</strong><br />

records <strong>and</strong> survey response data were stored in a customized Microsoft Access database.<br />

QAQC – Accuracy of all data input into the database was reviewed by <strong>multiple</strong> team<br />

members, statistical tests to ensure representativeness were performed, on-going data<br />

analysis <strong>and</strong> information updates throughout the research process resulted in continual<br />

improvement of data quality.<br />

4. Owner/postcard survey: To identify “impact” 16 properties in each utility, postcard surveys<br />

were developed, tested <strong>and</strong> implemented to the property owners of all eligible multi-<strong>family</strong><br />

properties in each utility. QAQC – Project manager, PAC/POC review of survey instrument.<br />

Statistical tests performed to ensure the water use characteristics of each sample was<br />

statistically similar to that of the population.<br />

5. Manager survey: To obtain detailed information about properties identified in the<br />

owner/postcard survey, a survey was developed, tested <strong>and</strong> sent to property managers of<br />

impacted <strong>and</strong> in-rent properties. QAQC – Project manager, PAC/POC review of survey<br />

instrument. Data input quality control review <strong>and</strong> checks. Statistical tests performed to<br />

ensure the water use characteristics of respondents was statistically similar to postcard survey<br />

sample from which it was drawn.<br />

6. Regulatory <strong>and</strong> policy review: To evaluate the administrative <strong>and</strong> regulatory issues<br />

surrounding third party <strong>billing</strong> <strong>program</strong>s throughout the country, surveys were sent to various<br />

potential regulators in all 50 states <strong>and</strong> to more than 100 of the largest water <strong>and</strong> wastewater<br />

utilities. Additionally a detailed policy literature review was conducted. QAQC – Project<br />

manager, PAC/POC review of survey instruments. NSUAA review of state by state policy<br />

31

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