EMWC Water Loss Program Bearing Fruit

Most water utilities experience significant operating expenses resulting from leaky pipes and non-revenue sales (e.g. hydrant flushing, and under-reporting of older meters). EMWC consistantly reported total system losses of over 50% throughout the 1980's, 1990's, and into the mid-2000's. Engineering studies during this period estimated that we would have to spend over $1,000,000 in order to correct the problem (i.e. get below 20%). In 2007, we began a concerted effort to better identify the nature of the losses and perhaps attack the problem in a piece-meal fashion. We also allocated significant capital for making system improvements designed to address some of the "leakier" sections of pipe. During the past ten years, older meters were replaced and a new water auditing procedure was adopted. We installed special leak-detection meters at critical road intersections and repaired the numerous water leaks discovered as a result. We also replaced or added 5,700 feet of water mains as part of the water loss program. As seen in the chart below, our total system losses have been reduced to as low as 10% on a monthly basis (monthly savings can be as much as $10,000 when comparing a 50% loss to a 10% loss). We are now consistently meeting our targeted goal of 20% loss, and have spent less than $200,000 to achieve this, far below the $1,000,000+ estimates!!

---