The question has arisen about how pressurized secondary water supply systems are managed, how water charges are set, and how tap sizes are designated, particularly under unmetered regimes. These issues are addressed under various posting on this website (or are forthcoming).
The non-use of meters is a concept highly recommended for secondary supply systems, in order to keep operating costs down and to make these systems competitive with potable water supply provided by local municipalities and rural domestic water supply districts. Of course, the issue of metering vs. non-metering is controversial, and planners may oppose the idea of unmetered systems. However, it is important to remember that secondary supply systems are ultimately designed to: 1) help the potable water suppliers in the region reduce the growing costs of provisioning potable water to urban fringe and unincorporated areas, and; 2) encourage people to utilize the secondary supply system for landscape and other outdoor water uses.
In one known instance, tap size for the secondary supply to a residential lot is determined by having the homeowner/landowner fill out an application for secondary supply with the canal company providing the pressurized supply. This is then a permanent record kept in the canal company office. Periodic checks by canal company employees may be required to ensure that only the acreage designated in the “right” is being irrigated by the resident/homeowner/landowner. Homeowners Association oversight for small residential subdivisions can also help the canal company in the administration of this policy. Generally, it has been observed that the terms of the application process are rarely violated by homeowners under secondary supply systems. As can be seen, the homeowner can expand his/her “right” by re-applying to the canal company for larger acreage to be served, and thus a larger tap. There may be costs associated with this.