Finding “Real” Water Losses in Joliet

Finding “Real”Water Losses in Joliet

John H. Van Arsdel, Vice President

OverviewOverviewOverviewOverview

�Water Loss Control

�Water Balance Format (AWWA/IWA)

�Apparent Losses

�Real Losses

� Leakage control

�Case Study

Water Loss Control

� Monitoring water resources has been conducted for thousands of years.

� Julius Frontenus was first Roman Water Commissioner and recognized importance of equitable water distribution (300 BC)

� Concept of “water rights” and water use has been debated for centuries

End result: majority of water use is now

metered or monitored

Water PumpedWater PumpedWater PumpedWater Pumped

Water SoldWater SoldWater SoldWater Sold

Gallons of water being pumped into the distribution systemeach billing period exceeds the gallons being sold.

� The difference in the water pumped versus water sold is basically termed “water loss”

� Is it not possible to have a “perfect system”

� Concept of “acceptable loss” levels

– What is “acceptable”?

– How do you control losses?

Water Loss ControlWater Loss ControlWater Loss ControlWater Loss Control

State Water Loss Standards - 2001

15%

10%

10%

10%

20%15% 15%

15%

15%

10%

10%15%

15%

15%

20%15%

7.5%

20%

20%

15%

15%

15%

Water Systems are not designed to loose $$’s

• If you think it is OK to loose 10%, 15% or 20% of your water …

Just hand over to me …

10%, 15%, or 20% of your paycheck each payday… and I will go away!!

Now that I have your attention….

Water systems are not designed to lose money!

� What is considered “acceptable loss”in a system?

10%, 15%, ???

� Why are these losses unacceptable?

� Law of diminishing returns…

Water Loss Control

Water Loss Control is defined simply as the process of “Auditing” the operational procedures and processes of our water utility to determine losses and then provide remediation for those issues.

IWA/AWWA developed a “Water Balance”chart after much research into differences in concept of water losses.

Standard Water Standard Water Standard Water Standard Water Balance FormatBalance FormatBalance FormatBalance Format

WaterImported

OwnSources

TotalSystemInput

( allowfor

knownerrors )

TotalSystemInput

(allowfor

knownerrors)

WaterSupplied

WaterExported

WaterSupplied

WaterExported

WaterLosses

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(before the meter)

Leakage on Mains

Customer Metering & Data Inaccuracies

Unauthorized Consumption

Unbilled Unmetered Consumption

Unbilled Metered Consumption

Start hereMove this direction

Water Audit Form

Developed by the AWWA Water Loss Committee

Easier than a 1040 form!

Water Loss ControlWater Loss ControlWater Loss ControlWater Loss Control

�Water Loss Spreadsheet provides help and direction for Financial, Operational, and Water Resources Considerations through a “scoring” mechanism (called ILI).

�Considerations are given to optimization of the above 3 resources.

Now available free of charge at

� http://www.awwa.org/waterwiser/waterloss/

Water Loss Control / Water Audit

� A Water Audit is made up of 5 major components

1. Master Meter Testing

2. Commercial/Industrial Meter Testing

3. Residential Meter Testing

4. Meter Reading & Billing Review

5. Leak Detection

Water LossesWater LossesWater LossesWater Losses

Apparent - Metering Inaccuracies


( $$ Non-Revenue Water $$ )

Real Losses - Leakage

( $$ Non-Revenue Water $$)

Real Losses

“Let’s begin today with a look at

Holy #@**%$ ... When did this happen”?

72” main break

Too late…

Well, so much for watering the lawn and washing the car today…

**Main breaks happen… some are unavoidable.

Are you ready for this??

Four Four Four Four Components of Components of Components of Components of Managing Managing Managing Managing Real LossesReal LossesReal LossesReal Losses

UnavoidableReal Losses

Improve response time

for leak repairs

Active

Leakage ControlPressureManagement

Improve Maintenance,

Replacement & Rehabilitation

� As each component receives more or less attention, the losses will increase or decrease

The Utility should The Utility should The Utility should The Utility should strive to keep losses strive to keep losses strive to keep losses strive to keep losses to a minimumto a minimumto a minimumto a minimum

Existing Real

Losses

Economic Level

Non-Revenue Water

Non-Revenue Water = Pumped Water – Billed Water

Real Losses---- LeakageLeakageLeakageLeakage( $$ Non-Revenue Water $$)

(You do not make $$’s on leaks!!)

Think all leaks surface?

Don’t bet on it!!

Acoustic Leak Detection 101• Fluid escaping a pipe

under pressure produces “Leak Noise”

• Leaks are detectable based on:– Size of leak

– Pressure of pipe

– Pipe size

– Pipe material

– Length of pipe between listening points

– Good physical contact with pipe or valve

How to perform a Leak Survey…

The old way…

Acoustic Leak Detection 101 (continued)Acoustic Leak Detection 101 (continued)Acoustic Leak Detection 101 (continued)Acoustic Leak Detection 101 (continued)

• Leak noise is picked up by a set of transducers

• Signal is amplified and transmitted to Correlator to pinpoint leak location.

• Leak Correlation is based on time delay difference of arrival of leak sound received by each sensor.

• Generally, – Smaller, high pressure leaks - mid to higher frequency

ranges

– Larger, low pressure leaks - low to mid range

– PVC - lowest range

The pipe material, pipe size, and length of pipe segments are entered into the Correlator

and the leak noise is analyzed and the leak pinpointed!

Operational TheoryOperational TheoryOperational TheoryOperational Theory

• L=d-vt/2

• L is Leak Distance from “A”

• D is distance between “A” and “B”

• V is velocity of leak noise

• T is time delay of noise between “A” & “B”

Leak Correlation Equipment Leak Correlation Equipment Leak Correlation Equipment Leak Correlation Equipment

Leak Located - X marks the Spot

Note the other utility’s locations…

Hole Dug…

Leak Repaired - One Hole, One Restoration

City of Joliet, IL (2008-2009)

� 24 wells providing average 13 mgd.24 wells providing average 13 mgd.24 wells providing average 13 mgd.24 wells providing average 13 mgd.

� 2005 capacity increased to 23 mgd. 2005 capacity increased to 23 mgd. 2005 capacity increased to 23 mgd. 2005 capacity increased to 23 mgd.

� Large part of the piping system was Large part of the piping system was Large part of the piping system was Large part of the piping system was over 100 years old over 100 years old over 100 years old over 100 years old

Case study


� 375 miles of water main in the City of 375 miles of water main in the City of 375 miles of water main in the City of 375 miles of water main in the City of JolietJolietJolietJoliet’’’’s distribution system. s distribution system. s distribution system. s distribution system.

� 180 miles surveyed for Phase I of the 180 miles surveyed for Phase I of the 180 miles surveyed for Phase I of the 180 miles surveyed for Phase I of the program program program program

� Focus on older sections of pipe, Focus on older sections of pipe, Focus on older sections of pipe, Focus on older sections of pipe, downtown areasdowntown areasdowntown areasdowntown areas

Case study

Reasons behind leak detectionReasons behind leak detectionReasons behind leak detectionReasons behind leak detection

�Conserve freshwater resources by reducing the amount of “real” water losses through leakage

� Conserve energy and reducing treatment costs by reducing pumpage because of main breaks

� Help in monitoring potential distribution system operations and maintenance problems

� Promote proper accounting and financial reporting (GASB 34)

� Reduce the risk of water shortage and customerhardship by finding leaks beforethey become catastrophic

� Ensure a sound and reliable water service and fire protection for customers of the Utility

Water Pumped

Water Sold

City of Joliet, ILSome areas similar to other Cities and Villages…

City of Joliet, ILOther older areas have been renewed …


What was found in first part of survey….

� 59 leaks in first 67 miles surveyed (average of one leak per 1.1 miles of main)

� 12 main breaks (average 1 main break per 5.6 miles)

� 17 service line leaks

� 26 hydrant leaks

� 4 valve leaks (packing and bonnet bolts).

Case study


What was found ….

� 149 leaks (average of one leak per

1.2 miles of main)

� 33 main breaks (average 1 main break per 4.5 miles)

� 59 service line leaks (7 on the customer side of the shut off valve

� 46 hydrant leaks

� 11 valve leaks (packing and bonnet bolts).

Case study


What was found ….� 149 leaks

(estimated total 1.73 mgd or about 1200 gpm)

� 33 main breaks (average 24.5 gpm each)

� 59 service line leaks (average 5 gpm each)

� 46 hydrant leaks (2 gpm each)

� 11 valve leaks (1 gpm each)

Case study


�The majority of these leaks did not surface because the local geology of Joliet is limestone.

�Annualized water losses

$918,354.00

(wholesale costs of $1.45/1000 gals)

�Payoff for cost of survey: 15 days

Case study


Estimated leakage 1.73 mgd

(or about 1200 gpm)

Daily average pumpage @ 13 mgd

Loss = 13.3 %

Case study


15%

10%

10%

10%

20%15% 15%

15%

15%

10%

10%15%

15%

15%

20%15%

7.5%

20%

20%

15%

15%

15%

Leak Locations (water drops) in 180 miles of main

Downtown area

192.00.13331/32"

815.90.56661/16"

3,240.02.251/8"

12,744.08.851/4"

50,256.034.91/2"

GPD LossGPM LossHole Diameter

Estimating Leak AmountsEstimating Leak AmountsEstimating Leak AmountsEstimating Leak Amounts

** Pressure at 50 psi** Pressure at 50 psi** Pressure at 50 psi** Pressure at 50 psi

Pressure’s affect on leak amounts

Mathematical relationship…

Double the pressure…

(50psi x 2 = 100psi)

The leak amount (volume) is

SQUARED!

(10 gpm x 10 = 100 gpm100 gpm100 gpm100 gpm)

When things went wrong….

A few Problems …

Once leak was pinpointed, dug as soon as possible

•When leak location was off, leak crew returned to verify location.

•Generally reason for miss was wrong distance, pipe material, diameter, abandoned service…

Typical Neighborhood ….

Main line break near a corp.

Some valve boxes cleaned

to gain access to the valve

for listening…

Field Documentation

GPS location of leaks for import into GIS

DocumentationDocumentationDocumentationDocumentation

Diagram of Location

Leak tracking in survey area…

Phase II

What was found ….

• 69 leaks in 150 miles of pipe

(estimated total .26352 mgd or about 183 gpm)

• 6 main breaks (average 17.5 gpm each)

• 15 service line leaks (average 2 gpm each)

• 44 hydrant leaks (1 gpm each)

• 4 valve leaks (1 gpm each)

�The majority of these leaks did not surface because the local geology of Joliet is limestone.

�Annualized estimated water losses

$139,468.00

(wholesale costs of $1.45/1000 gals)

�Payoff for cost of survey: 51 days

Phase II

Phase I & II totals

$ 1,057,822 estimated annual wholesale costs (loss)

1.998 mgd loss

Average pumpage 13 mgd

15.3% estimated loss


15%

10%

10%

10%

20%15% 15%

15%

15%

10%

10%15%

15%

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20%15%

7.5%

20%

20%

15%

15%

15%

Lessons Learned from the Leak program

• Fire Hydrant issues…

• Potential Customer Meter issues…

• Customer Lateral issues

• GIS Mapping Updates

• Not all leaks surface!

• Prioritize CIP programs

Standard Water Balance Format

WaterImported

OwnSources

TotalSystemInput

( allowfor

knownerrors )

TotalSystemInput

(allowfor

knownerrors)

WaterSupplied

WaterExported

WaterSupplied

WaterExported

WaterLosses


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(before the meter)

Leakage on Mains

Customer Metering & Data Inaccuracies


Unbilled Unmetered Consumption

Unbilled Metered Consumption

Future goals

• Increased water loss control

• Introduce the best leak detection available

• Continue process of identifying high percentage leak areas for system betterment

• Preparing and implementing a reporting system in accordance with proposed AWWA guidelines (per M-36)

AWWA Policy Statement (M-36)

Conduct Audits

Evaluate overall effectiveness of:

� Metering

� Billing and accounting

� Water loss control (leaks)

** Audits provide basis of assessing what needs to be improved

THANK YOU!!

A special thank you to the following people/entities who provided information:

AWWA Water Loss Control Committee

John Van Arsdel/Dan Hood – M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.

Finding “Real” Water Losses in Joliet

Education

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