Benchmarking Water Loss Performance:

The Death of Unaccounted For Water

Presented by:

Tory N. Wagoner, P.E./P.L.S.

Director of Operations, Cavanaughtory.wagoner@cavanaughsolutions.com

M36: Water Audits and Loss Control Programs:AWWA Water Loss Control Committee

1991 1999 2009 2016

Quiz

According to the AWWA, an acceptable level of Unaccounted For Water is:

A.15%B. 10%C. 5%D.0%

AuthorizedConsumption

WaterLosses

RealLosses

ApparentLosses

UnbilledAuthorized

Consumption

BilledAuthorized

Consumption

Non-Revenue

Water

RevenueWater

Leakage & Overflows at Storage

Billed Unmetered Consumption

Billed Metered Consumption

Billed Water Exported

Leakage on Service Lines

Leakage on Mains

Systematic Data Handling Errors

Customer Metering Inaccuracies

Unauthorized Consumption

Unbilled Unmetered Consumption

Unbilled Metered Consumption

WaterImported

OwnSources

TotalSystemInput

( allowfor

knownerrors )

WaterExported

WaterSupplied

Physical loss - leakage

Cost impacts at ‘wholesale’ rate

Tools for control include leakage and

pressure management

Non-physical / revenue loss - slow meters,

billing issues and theft

Cost impacts at ‘retail’ rate.

Tools for control include data management,

quality control policies/practices, & meter

testing & repair

Fire Dept Usage

Operational Flushing

Tools for control include efficient flushing

practices and awareness campaigns

IWA/AWWA Water Balance

2003

Inconsistent use and

interpretation

Unreliable indicator of

performance

Fails to segregate loss into

its components for effective

management

Unaccounted

For Water

Unaccounted

For Water

Percentage

Water Loss or

NRW as % of

Supply

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

MG

DWater Loss as a Percentage of Supply is not an Indicator of Performance

Water Supplied (MGD)

Authorized Consumption (MGD)

Water Loss (MGD)

Major Industry

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

MG

DWater Loss as a Percentage of Supply is not an Indicator of Performance

Water Supplied (MGD) Authorized Consumption (MGD)Water Loss (MGD) Water Loss (Percent of Supply)

Major Industry

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

MG

DWater Loss as a Percentage of Supply is not an Indicator of Performance

Water Supplied (MGD)

Authorized Consumption (MGD)

Water Loss (MGD)

Development BoomGreat Recession,

Rate Increases,

Conservation

New Normal

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

22%

24%

26%

28%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

MG

DWater Loss as a Percentage of Supply is not an Indicator of Performance

Water Supplied (MGD)

Authorized Consumption (MGD)

Water Loss (MGD)

Water Loss (Percent of Supply)

Unaccounted

For Water

Unaccounted

For Water

Percentage

Water Loss or

NRW as

Percentage of

Supply

Quiz

According to the AWWA, an acceptable level of Unaccounted For Water is:

A.15%B. 10%C. 5%D.0%

According to the AWWA, an acceptable level of Unaccounted For Water is:

A.15%B. 10%C. 5%D.0%

Quiz

3-V

Validity

Value

Volume

MG per Year

Gal/connection/day

Leakage Index

$ per Year

Economic Loss Index

Water Audit Data Validity Score

95% Confidence Limits

Key Data Input Grades

Volume Value

Real Loss

Apparent Loss

Unbilled Consumption

NRW Components - By Volume (MG) - Level 2

Real Loss

Apparent Loss

Unbilled Consumption

NRW Components - By ValueLevel 2

Volume Value

Unbilled Unmetered

Unbilled Metered

Meter Inaccuracy

Theft

Data Handling

Unreported Leakage

Background Leakage

Reported Leakage

Real Loss Apparent Loss UnbilledConsumption

NRW Components - By Volume (MG)

Level 3

Unbilled Unmetered

Unbilled Metered

Meter Inaccuracy

Theft

Data Handling

Unreported Leakage

Background Leakage

Reported Leakage

Real Loss Apparent Loss UnbilledConsumption

NRW Components - By ValueLevel 3

Volume Value

Current8.2 BG

Economically Optimized

3.6 BG

NRW Volume (BG/year)

Current$7.3M

Economically Optimized

$2.3M

NRW Value ($/year)

$5 M4.6 BG

Volume Value

Current8.2 BG

Economically Optimized

3.6 BG

NRW Volume (BG/year)

Current(WATER)$7.3M

Economically Optimized

(WATER)$2.3M

NRW Value ($/year)

4.6 BG

$8.5 M

(SEWER)$4.5M

(SEWER)$1.1M

$11.6

M

$3.4

M

Where is Optimum?

Value of recoverable NRW (case for action)

Areas of focus for NRW recovery (component analysis)

Water Audit Data Validity Score: 74 out of 100

(Validated)

Economic Metrics Volume

95%

Confidence

Limits (+/-)

Value -

Water Only

Value -

With Sewer

95%

Confidence

Limits (+/-)

Non-Revenue Water 24,744 gal/conn/yr 14.2% 22$ 35$ $/conn/yr 16.6%

Non-Revenue Water 8,235 MG/yr 14.1% 7,166,110$ 11,568,137$ $/yr 16.6%

Target NRW Recovery (prel) 4,037 MG/yr 25.0% 4,707,445$ 7,985,285$ $/yr 25.0%

NRW Economic Index

(ratio of current vs optimum NRW cost) 2.9 3.2

Benchmarking Water Loss Performance:

The Death of Unaccounted For Water

Presented by:

Tory N. Wagoner, P.E./P.L.S.

Director of Operations, Cavanaughtory.wagoner@cavanaughsolutions.com