John T. SuttonTexas Water Development Board

The statements contained in this presentation are my current views and opinions and are not intended to

reflect the positions of, or information from, the Texas Water Development Board, nor is it an indication of any

official policy position of the Board.

Who Submits Audits?All retail public water suppliers - about 3,500

Submit a Water Loss Audit every 5 yearsWere due May 1, 2011 and again May 1, 2016

Annual reporting:TWDB loan recipients beginning May 2013 Entities with more than 3,300 connections beginning

May 2014

What Is A Water Loss Audit?A "top down" audit or a "desktop" exercise

using existing estimations and recordsUses information on system input volume;

authorized use; reported leaks and breaksSeparates uses and losses into practical

categoriesConnected to the Water Use Survey

Certain data self-populatesNumerous lines are auto-calculated

How Is An Audit Conducted?Consistent and standard terms-TWDB

methodology based on American Water Works Association guidelines

“Unaccounted for water” is no-longer usedAnswers the following questions:

Where was water lost?How much water was actually lost? (VOLUME)What was the value of that water? ($)

Why Is Water Loss ImportantTo The Utility?Inefficient use of available water resources

supply side conservationRevenue and cost management!Properly tracking apparent loss

increase revenuedecrease rate increase frequency

Recovery of real lossescost-effective compared to new waterdiminished need to search for new waterunnecessary investments in new facilities

Why Is Water Loss ImportantTo The State?Inefficient use of available water resources

supply side conservationData is provided to regional water planning groups

for consideration in developing water management strategies

Conservation staff can contact and offer assistance to selected utilities

Data is used in review and approval of TWDB loan applications for water projects

Significant Data

Accuracy of production metersAccuracy of customer metersVolume of billed, unbilled, metered, unmetered

authorized usesVolume of reported breaks and leaks“Unreported loss” is residual after all above

estimates are enteredUtility’s cost for produced water and retail cost of

water to customers

2014 Results419 “completed” audits were submittedAuthorized consumption was 88.2 percent of

input volumeTotal “Water Loss” was 11.8 percent of input

volumeSeparating water loss:

Apparent loss was 2.3 percent Customer meter accuracy

Real loss was 9.5 percent Reported breaks and leaks loss was only 1.3 percent “Unreported loss” was 8.2 percent

Statewide Total Billed Metered

653,744,067,099

419 Audits Submitted Billed Consumption 82.3% Revenue Water

656,060,842,995 Billed Unmetered 656,060,842,995

82.6% 2,316,775,896 82.6%

Authorized Consumption 0.3%

700,257,384,937 Unbilled Metered

88.2% 19,538,789,656

Unbilled Consumption 2.5%

44,196,541,942 Unbilled Unmetered

5.6% 44,196,541,942

System Input Volume 3.1%

794,216,514,565 Unauthorized Consumption

2,334,276,213 Non-revenue Water

0.3% 138,155,671,570

Apparent Loss Customer Meter Accuracy Loss 17.4%

18,522,006,804 15,476,584,143

2.3% 1.9%

Water Loss Systematic Data Handling Discrepency

93,959,129,628 719,401,198

11.8% 0.1%

Reported Breaks and Leaks

10,196,832,705

Real Loss 1.3%

75,437,122,824 Unreported Loss

9.5% 65,240,290,119

8.2%

Results by Size of UtilityUtilities with less than 10,000 population

16.7 percent total water loss Utilities with population between 10,000 and

49,99911.2 percent total loss

Utilities with population between 50,000 and 99,99911.0 percent total loss

• Utilities with a population of more than 100,000• 12.0 percent total loss

The Cost of Water Loss

Apparent loss is water that should have resulted in revenue to the utilityMedian loss – $40,851

Real loss is treated water that was not available for sale or useMedian loss - $75,434

Key Water Loss IssuesData validationPoor records and asset managementInsufficient leak detection, repair, reportingNot being proactive in reducing lossLack of funding/revenue for maintenance and repair

of aging or damaged infrastructure

Lessons & EnhancementsAll water volumes entered in gallonsImprove wording and examples in the

instructionsMore pop-up comments/hints on the worksheetImprove ability to log into the secure database to

complete the worksheetWater Use Survey and Water Loss AuditProduction versus treatedWholesale volumes

Water Loss ThresholdsReviewed for retail public water suppliers with application for financial assistance for water projectsApparent Loss

Customer meter accuracy of 95 percentReal Loss

More than 10,000 population – 3 times unavoidable annual real loss

10,000 population or less & 32 connections or more per mile – 50 gallons per connection per day

10,ooo population or less & less than 32 connections per mile – 1,600 gallons per mile per day

ResourcesTechnical resources

for implementing a water loss program Leak Detection Equipment Workshops and training

Financial resourcesConservation and water loss are eligible for financial

assistanceThresholds for water loss

www.twdb.texas.gov

Future DatesMarch 1, 2016

2015 Water Use Survey

May 1, 20162015 Water Loss Audits

All retail public water suppliers

John T. Sutton512-463-7988

John.Sutton@twdb.texas.gov