What is Municipal water loss control program?
A municipal water loss control program is a water utility's ongoing effort to measure, reduce and report water that is produced but not billed. It starts with a standardized water audit, separates real losses such as leaks from apparent losses such as meter error and theft, and then targets each with metering, pressure management, leak detection and repair.
What it is
Every water system loses some water between the treatment plant and the customer. Real losses are physical: leaks and bursts on mains and service lines, and tank overflows. Apparent losses are paper losses: customer meter under-registration, billing errors and unauthorized use.
In North America, most programs use the AWWA M36 methodology and its free water audit software to build a top-down water balance, with performance indicators such as the Infrastructure Leakage Index. Some states require utilities to submit validated audits, so utilities should check current state rules.
An audit shows the size of the problem. Reducing it takes active work: district metered areas, night flow analysis, pressure management, acoustic leak detection, faster repairs and meter testing.
Who it applies to / where it is used
Municipal and county water utilities, special districts, public works departments and their consultants. State regulators and funding programs often look for a loss control program when reviewing plans or applications.
How it is measured / what evidence it needs
A program needs both the annual audit and continuous data that shows where losses happen.
- System input volume from production and import meters
- Billed and unbilled authorized consumption
- Real and apparent loss estimates with data validity grades
- District metered area inflow and minimum night flow
- Leaks found, repaired and verified by area
How Aqueduct helps
Aqueduct supplies the continuous measured data behind a utility's water audit and loss reduction work, alongside its SCADA.
- aQ WaterGuard balances production meters against district and customer meters
- Night flow and burst detection locate real losses by area
- Meter performance analytics point to apparent losses
- SCADA keeps control of the network; Aqueduct reads data and routes findings into the utility's work order system