ABT specializes in water system management for the manufactured housing industry.

Our services include turnkey submeter installations, infrastructure repair, infrastructure replacement, water quality assessment, water accountability, and automated smart technologies for ongoing system monitoring. We provide turnkey programs for facilities across the country. As an independent service provider ABT continuously looks for the best quality equipment, technologies, and warranties to provide investment value. ABT uses a phased approach in assessing the needs of each water system we examine. In the

world of contracting, nobody likes big surprises at the end of a project. We learned early on that good decisions and positive outcomes are derived from accurate and complete infrastructure information. Each community is unique and must be detailed in order to provide an accurate condition report and meaningful quotes to rectify deciencies. It is common for facility owners to think that a purchase condition report or a property appraisal will contain this information. Although these reports may contain portions which may be useful, they rarely contain all of the specics needed to make solid nancial decisions on infrastructure investment. Lets take a look at the step by step process we have rened over the last 15 years.

Phase 1. - Visual Inspection, Due Diligence, Research, Analysis, Leak sounding An on site inspection is a picture of the existing conditions at the property. Phase I includes sending

our experienced crew to the job site. Complete inspection of about 80 homes per day is typical. Investigation by the crew includes the detail of each homes water connection including all the materials from the water riser to the home inlet. Special existing under home conditions are also reported, including damaged pipes & insulation, water leaks, risers with standing water, sewer leaks, gas leaks, infestations, and potential plumbing code violations. It is common to nd leaks due to broken pipes, broken valves, broken risers, and broken meter plates (if metered). The crew also notes all wet areas, depressions, soggy ground, leaking hydrants, and thawed ground in winter. Inspections can be done for any facility including metered facilities. We have done inspections for metered facilities identifying as much as 30% unaccounted water. Much of this can be attributed to broken meter plates which leak, but do not register water. If a metered facility has older pulse meters with outside dials, we will write down both meter, and dial readings to nd disparities which may comprise a large amount of your unaccounted water. Vertically installed meters are also common, and contribute to signicant under registration of water used. While our crew is busy getting the details at the facility, our experienced staff is performing the preliminary due diligence. During this process we nd out what licenses and permits may be required by local, county, and state authorities for metering, water line replacement, and leak repair. We also obtain the local water & sewer rate structures so we can provide a complete nancial assessment and rate recommendation. Further, ABT will examine any as built plans to make an initial assessment of opportunities associated with water system replacement, upgrades, repairs, and installation of automated leak detection equipment.

We also research meteorological data to make sure our recommendation for freeze protection is adequate for the local weather conditions. Facilities which have their own water source (well) are sampled at the source and distribution. A water quality analysis is performed to determine corrosion indicators based on computer models for positive / negative langlier index, Bayliss curve, CCPP, and the Ryznar index. These index studies can indicate how water quality may affect the sustainable life of new equipment. For example, calcium, iron, & silicates can negatively impact the performance of meter equipment. Excess deposition of these materials can cause under-registration or stoppage of a meter. Corrosive water can also have a negative impact by contributing corrosion byproducts into the meter chamber slowing or stopping the meter. Knowing the water quality can affect material choices, and may indicate if treatment is needed. Corrosion indicators and secondary inorganic tests are not primary to the annual Safe Drinking Water Act requirements as they are not considered acute contaminants.

ABT also provides a basic leak sounding with digital display audio detection for direct contact equipment such as valves, risers, and hydrants. Analysis of this information may help identify general areas where water loss is occurring. This may also help narrow the search if a full leak analysis is requested. ABT can also provide a full leak detection survey. Please contact us if your are interested in an advanced leak detection survey. All data gathered during the inspection is organized into a binder, with complete supporting documentation and an executive summary of our ndings. Because inspection is a separate service, information is yours to keep and use regardless of whether ABT does any additional work at the property. ABT is condent that once you see the level of detail we provide, you will feel comfortable using us for additional services such as meter installations, radio upgrades, and billing services. Inspections are $12 per home plus travel. Private supply water quality assessment is an additional $500.00

Phase 2. Method, Systems, Smart Meters, and Installation Each facility along with their owner is unique. With this in mind, ABT presents several options based

on the inspection report. Meters, read systems, new pipe, new heat tape, and new insulation are discussed to customize the job to your need. When a method and system are chosen ABT produces a contract to reect the job. Once the contract is approved ABT orders material. We pre-build and pre-program everything we can to maximize uniformity and keep the onsite work consistent. If new water lines are chosen, we literally pre-build a new water line for each home before ever going to the job site. New water lines are complete with heat tape, insulation, valves and a meter coupling. This method is more effective than trying to assemble on-site. ABT does not sub-contract any work. Our experienced crew can install 10-20 homes per day depending on the work required and onsite conditions. A 100 site community would take about 1 week to install new meters. ABT invites the owner or designated agent to do a post installation inspection to make sure everything is up to their standards. This nal inspection helps to avoid issues after the crew leaves the facility. Each home installation is fully documented, and installation notes are provided to the on-site personnel so peripheral issues can be addressed right away. The written install documentation is then formatted into a spreadsheet to detail what parts were used for each home. This job detail is provided with the nal bill for the project. Choices abound for meter brands. Our rst criteria for these systems is basic. They must be

AWWA certied for municipal installation. The reason for this is simple. When meter accuracy is called into question, meters installed by ABT will stand up to the scrutiny of consumers and utilities alike. Our second criteria is manufacturer warranty. Generally, warranties indicate the condence a manufacturer holds in their product to stand up to the riggers of a long term, often harsh, environment. Basic meter body design and measurement has not changed much in the last 50 years. Positive

displacement and turbine would be most common to the submeter system. Meter head technology (the register) has changed signicantly. The rst remote read systems relied on pulse technology, literally a voltage produced by the meter is sent to an external mechanical odometer. Each pulse indicates an increment of water such as 100 gallons and trips the external odometer to the next numeric value. These system are still available today, but are not sold by ABT. Our experience with replacement of these systems shows a signicant accountability issue. External odometers fail to keep pace with the meter under the home, because they are susceptible to tampering, heating, cooling, moisture, and insects. Without annual inspection and calibration pulse meters will lose 2% or more per year in water accountability. A monthly billing cycle means leaks, tampering, and stuck meters will not be noticed for 30-45 days and will not be repaired for 45-60 days minimum. It is more common for problems to go unnoticed for many months.

Outside Dial

Newer meter registers have encoders that transmit readings digitally when interrogated by a hand

held device. Digital capture eliminates human error of hand written double entry. Hand Held readers typically cost several thousand dollars and require the ability to upload and download reading and route information to and from a PC. Software on the PC must then be manipulated to export a read le for import into a billing program. This type of system requires coordination of several people

each month. Common issues of this system are read date uctuations or missed readings. Weather issues such as, storms, snow, cold, etc.. are primary. Equipment failure and battery issues may cause delays or missed months which would then be averaged. A monthly billing cycle means leaks, tampering, and stuck meters will not be noticed for 30-45 days and will not be repaired for 45-60 days minimum. This is a best case scenario. Radio read technology for meters (smart meters) were introduced in the early 1980s. ABT began

radio installations in 2002. Our rst radio installation was a community of 80 sites in central Wisconsin with well and septic. The desired benet was to lower water use to prevent saturation of the septic drain eld. For 8 years we have read meters every day, and displayed a daily quality assurance report on our web site. Thats over a quarter million reads, and almost 3000 daily reports. Impressive as this may be the question is always the same. Is proactive daily monitoring with smart meters worth the extra upfront cost? A cost comparison can be made to quantify the differences. The following is based on current ABT sales of our two main meter systems. Equipment totals do not include peripherals or labor which would be similar in cost for both systems. 150 site Facility Neptune w/ touchpad MasterMeter w/ radio Meters Reading Device $17,100 $4,500 $24,750 $4,800 Total $21,600 $29,550 Monthly Cost per 15 year Read Cost Read Expense $113 $0.50 $41,850 $38 $0.01 $36,300

Reading cost savings over time favor the automated daily read system, but this is not the full story.

Imagine trying to run your regular business by accessing your ofce, cell phone, and computer for

only one day each month. Imagine further that your one big day can only be used to review a single day of information. This is how most companies handle submetering and the reason why so many submetered systems fall into disarray. By the time someone gures out there is a problem it is beyond simple measures to x. Smart meters allow better allocation of human resources. Instead of paying $15 per hour for a

maintenance person to read meters, utility managers know it makes scal sense to have maintenance people actually maintaining the water system to minimize loss and maximize revenue. Finding leaks, replacing aged infrastructure, doing under home inspections, ushing hydrants, meter upkeep, and exercising isolation valves should all be done on a regular basis. Smart meters are consumer friendly. When a home owner is quickly notied of a problem, and

avoids getting an outrageous utility bill, the park has become an ally instead of an adversary. Smart meters are a green technology. Water loss can be identied next day, or exactly matched to

the date of your supply readings. Repairs can be facilitated in days instead of months. Identication and quick repair of one or two major leaks can easily offset not just the difference in equipment cost, but the cost of the entire installation. Radio transmitters for smart meters can also be used to monitor permanent

leak noise loggers like the Permalog 3. These devices are placed up to 1000 intervals on metallic pipe and up to 500 on plastic pipe. Constant monitoring of the acoustics from the mains provides the daily knowledge of leak issues. It also narrows the search to a specic area when a leak detection company is called to pinpoint the exact location to dig.

Leak detection products, such as the the Permalog 3, are currently installed at

2000+ utilities throughout the United States. Daily monitoring for leaks is quickly becoming the common choice for proactive utilities which must track unaccounted water for the EPA, and rate auditors.

ABT installation of meters and peripherals is done by our internal crew. ABT does not subcontract

meter installations. Our crew can install about 100 homes per week. Smart meters allow ABT to remotely monitor crew progress each day. Cost of installation varies depending on ease of access, how much infrastructure we are replacing, and type of system purchased. ABT contracts based on our inspection data. Phase 3. ABT Monitoring & Billing. Most of the installations ABT has done over the last 5 years have included meters which are radio

tagged with a transmitter. Fixed base radio read systems are monitored daily. Daily web based reports identify numerous exceptions which alert owners and managers to potential problems. Daily read data is stored in a database and can be used not only to produce water bills, but is also used to compare directly against a city water bill. The percentage difference is a useful indicator as to water loss in distribution and is very helpful in making the decision to look for water leaks. Generally, water loss below 20% is expected and may not be easy to identify. Water loss above 20% may indicate larger leaks which are usually easier to nd. If the system owner has the ability to do their own utility bills, ABT will provide an online download of a text csv, for direct import or use with excel. When desired, ABT can facilitate all aspects of billing operations. Tabulation, printing, mailing,

remittance, deposit, reporting, and collections. The billing process can also be customized to your need. Billing home owners is done on a monthly cycle. The average water & sewer bill is $25-$30 dollars. ABT produces an 8.5 x 11 bill mailed in a #10 envelope with a tear off stub and # 9 return envelope. Postcard billing is not an option because it is illegal to send open invoicing with arrears on a postcard. customize the process to your satisfaction. Phase 4. Infrastructure Remediation - Repair or Replace It is common for a client to know they have an issue of unaccounted water. By the time ABT is ABT will

brought on board the facility has likely been patching and repairing water system leaks for quite some time. Often the frequency of repair has increased each year to the point where the expense is a noticeable drain on revenue. The question of replacement is not if, but when. When annual repair costs exceed the amortized cost of replacement it is time to weigh your options.

ABT is a general contractor for entire distribution replacement projects. You should expect a

properly engineered full system replacement will cost between $2000 and $2500 per site. You should also have a set aside fund of 20% for incidentals. Pricing will vary base on soil conditions, required depth, and proximity of known utilities. As an example, a 250 site facility monthly repair and water loss expense would need to exceed $5000 to justify a 20 year amortization at 7% interest for a new water system. Estimated time to install is about 50 homes per calender month. The digging process is slow and tedious due to an underground web of buried infrastructure which is likely to have no documentation of location or depth. Expect initial quotes to be lower as they will likely not include all aspects required to complete this type of job.

Some projects can employ an additional pipe installation method to reduce digging. Lateral boring is

a procedure where a vertical hole is prepared, and a lateral hole boring apparatus equipped with a leading auger of a smaller length than the diameter of the vertical hole is lowered into the vertical hole to a predetermined position. The apparatus is manipulated from the ground level to advance and rotate the leading auger to bore a lateral hole. Lateral boring can offer some help to avoid digging up streets or other semi-permanent xtures. Lateral boring may have limitations depending on soil type, pipe size, and availability to dig a large enough access area to begin the lateral process. Lateral boring is usually similar in price per linear ft as digging.

Restoration of existing metallic mains & laterals may be possible if they are not excessively corroded.

Internal pipe tuberculation can be removed by water jetting or application of polypigging under pressure. After cleaning, Epoxy coatings are applied. Epoxy coating is nonconductive thus eliminating future internal corrosion. Main cleaning and coating is similar in price per linear ft to excavating. Epoxy coatings are also used extensively in copper systems that suffer from pin hole leaks.

Summary ABTs broad knowledge and extensive hands on experience will save time and headaches. Our

philosophy is to provide quality products and services that stand the test of time knowing It is easier to explain quality than apologize for poor work or second-rate material. ABT is equipped to handle the needs of water utilities. ABT knows each client will bring certain

capabilities to the process of managing a water system. Our goal is to ll the gaps for our clients. We will do the work that is necessary to help reduce the park owners ancillary burden of water utilities. Listed below are services we can provide. Let us know how we can best help your utility thrive. To

get started complete a service request form and fax it to ABT.

Visual Inspection Due Diligence Research Analysis Leak Sounding

Rate Reviews System Design Smart Meters Installation Labor Leak Detection

Consulting Remediation General Contracting Recovery Training

Daily QA Reports Tabulation Bill Printing Remittance Tenant Inquiries

Service Request Form

Date:______________

Community Name: ______________________________________________ Location: ______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ _______ __________ Number of Sites: Total:____________ Occupied _________ Manager: _____________________ Phone: ______________ Fax_______________email___________________ Maintenance Mgr. _____________________________ Phone: _________________ e-mail__________________ Regional Contact: _____________________________ Phone: _________________ e-mail__________________ Owner/ Operations Mgmt. Co.:________________________________________ Headquarters Address __________________________________________________________ ________________________________________ ____________ ___________ Headquarters Contacts Operations: _____________________ Phone: ______________ Fax__________e-mail________________ Accounting: _____________________ Phone: ______________ Fax__________e-mail________________ Information Technology:__________________ Phone: ______________ Fax__________email________________ Other:________________________________________________________________________________________ Services Requested: ABT will fax a quote / authorization form for selected services.

Onsite Inspection Water Use & Rate Review Leak Detection Radio Tag meter upgrade Daily QA reports for radio meters Billing (reading, tabulation, database, printing/mailing, remittance, consumer calls)

Fax to ABT: 608.313.8791