Fire Sprinklers & Domestic Water Meters

During this phase, "foundational" documents, drawings, and approvals are established - key components for water service are:

• Service address
• Building Permit
• Existing utility identification/ account consolidation (get the existing meters in the correct owner's name)
• Utility Customer Service Agreement
• Easement documents, if necessary
• Water Capacity Reservation (ensure the city has available utilities)
• Approved site plans

• Including type of meter (domestic only - or domestic/ fire combination), size of service, and location of meter will be established.

  • Fire Domestic combination meters are used where usage requirements/applicable code dictates a fire sprinkler system - in conjunction with the domestic water system
  • Irrigation/Sprinkler meters are also commonly installed. In most cases, irrigation meters use the same tap as the domestic/fire meter and are "teed" off the domestic service.

The owner, builder, engineer, or Mickie Service Company can apply for a domestic meter. City of Houston meters can be applied for online or in person at 1002 Washington Ave. using this form. No matter how you apply, the applicant needs the service address, the proposed meter location (if your house is on a corner – it can go along either street) billing/owner's information, size and type of the meter, and a city-approved "plumber" (like Mickie Service Company!).

Remember, the meter application process is separate from the general building permit process. A building permit does not guarantee that a meter application has been submitted.

If you apply in-person, you may pay for both the meter application, inspection fee (covers the meter/meter box, too), and any City of Houston customer deposit. All of these fees will be collected when you submit your application.

If you complete the online application, you must contact the City of Houston New Services Department at (713) 341-1400; they will then send you a copy of the bill. This bill can be paid anywhere a water bill can be paid. (Like a major grocery store customer service department)

The City of Houston will process the paperwork within 3-5 business days. The city will then determine if the service is a long or short tap. A short tap occurs when the water main is on the same side of the street as the proposed meter. A long tap is when the main is across the street.

In general, the water main is close to the street in the city's right of way. In some cases, the water main is located underneath the street. This is more common in older neighborhoods where streets have been widened.

The City of Houston will then submit a work order to your contracted plumber (Mickie Service!). This selection was made during the application process. We will then contact the owner to schedule the installation. (In most cases, we will coordinate with the general contractor or plumber for the residence). During this time, we will confirm that all necessary paperwork is filed correctly (e.g., certificates of insurance), confirm the scope of work is clearly defined (e.g., who is going to replace the grass?), and confirm the contract/proposal terms are in place. (In most cases, a preliminary proposal has been agreed to.)

We will generate necessary permits (sidewalk break/repair, bore), and we notify the city of the installation and inspection schedule. We excavate the City of Houston water main, tap (drill a hole in – under pressure), bore under the road/sidewalk (if necessary), connect copper tubing, and install specified valves/fittings. Then the city inspector reviews our installation, and if it meets the requirements, the inspector will provide the meter and meter box, which we then install.

The excavated site is filled back in and restored per proposal and job scope specifications. The private (site) plumber will then connects the private service line to the water meter. There is no documentation provided by the City of Houston – the fact that a meter is in the ground is verification that the job is in/complete. Our standard terms are payable upon the successful completion of installation.

During this phase, "foundational" documents, drawings, and approvals are established - key components for water service are:

• Service address
• Building Permit
• Existing utility identification/ account consolidation (get the existing meters in the correct owners name)
• Utility Customer Service Agreement
• Easement documents, if necessary
• Water Capacity Reservation (ensure the city has available utilities)
• Approved site plans and Plan & Profile Drawings, if necessary

Including type of meter (domestic only - or domestic/ fire combination), size of service, and location of meter will be established.

• A domestic compound meter is used when the meter will serve domestic requirements only.
• A fire compound (combination) meter is required if both domestic and fire services use the meter. (Also - a combination meter is required if a private fire hydrant is serviced by the metered line).
• A fire turbine meter is required if the meter serves only fire - and the fire system has a tank/pump on it. (A closed fire system - with no tank - requires only a check meter and can be supplied by an unmetered fire line).

The application process is relatively extensive.

• Generation of a large job number by the City using project specific information. This five digit large job number is the key coordination item for the application, installation, and inspection process.
• Creation of easement
• Submission of applicable civil engineering drawings/capacity reservation documents, bonds, inspection fees and deposits.
• Generation of a work order
• Calibration of the meter (done by City of Houston)

The City of Houston will process the paperwork

• 5-10 business days for easement review
• 5-10 business days for civil drawing/utility customer service review
• 3-5 days for meter calibration
• The city will then send a work order to the utility contractor (Mickie Service!) We will then deliver the meter to the City of Houston for calibration and contact our customer to schedule installation

We will generate necessary permits (sidewalk break/repair, bore), and we notify the city of the installation and inspection schedule. We excavate the City of Houston water main, tap (drill a hole in – under pressure), bore under the road/sidewalk (if necessary), connect copper tubing, and install specified valves/fittings. Then the city inspector reviews our installation, and if it meets the requirements, the inspector will pass the meter into service - or if the service line is >18 feet, the inspector will begin the chlorination/hydro-test process.

For those large jobs where the distance from the tap to the meter is .18 feet - the City of Houston will chlorination and test the service line. THis requires the installation of additional "jumpers" at the tap - and a 2" blow off at the end of the service line (in the meter vault). This process is performed by the City of Houston - and takes 1-2 weeks.

The excavation site is backfilled/ restored per proposal/job scope specifications. There is no documentation provided by the City of Houston - the fact that a meter is in the ground is verification that the job is in/complete.