WaterRF 4372 – Project Background and Scope

1. What to look for when completing an AWWA Water Audit for the first timeReinhard Sturm, Vice PresidentWater Systems Optimization, Inc.Paul Johnson, Vice PresidentWater Systems Optimization, Inc.

2. WaterRF 4372 – Project Background and Scope • 11 participating utilities from NA • Review of existing water loss regulations and implementation experiences in NA • Review of international best practices in water loss regulation • Develop utility tested model for component analysis of real losses and evaluation of economically feasible water loss intervention strategies

3. WRF 4372 – Project Status and Findings LATEST FINDINGS: WORK COMPLETED: • North American average break frequency literature review and analysis • Review of select international water loss guidelines and regulations • Review of national water audit data sets • Collection and review of water audits and leak repair data from participating utilities • Beta-testing of WaterRF software tool • Quality and consistency of leak repair data collection needs to be improved • Even aggressive water loss reporting regulations and progressive guidelines under-estimate data quality obstacles • Group of PU’s shows full range of water loss control experience: both exemplary utilities and those just starting

4. California – CUWCC BMP1.2 BACKGROUND: • BMP1.2 – Water Loss Control Program (10years) • First four years focus on data validation and water loss accounting • Second phase to establish benchmarks and improvements to water loss performance • Six two-day workshops provided between 2010 and 2012 plus a webinar • WSO received the first data set of water audits for data validation

5. California – CUWCC BMP1.2 2010 Water Data Analysis and Validation: • Simple steps of data validation were applied • Results highlight the problems utilities are facing when completing an audit for the first time!

6. California – CUWCC BMP1.2 2010 Water Data Analysis and Validation: • 36% report implausible results • Data Validity is an issue – more training and outreach needed However: • Average data validity score 75.6 (Level IV = 71-90) • Average data validity score of utilities reporting negative water losses 77.0 • 51% of utilities report length for service pipe curb stop to meter • Financial data reported often questionable • Especially system input volume and consumption volumes need to be validated Note: Texas Water Audit Data showed similar data quality issues – 52% of water audits are technically impossible!!!!

7. California – CUWCC BMP1.2

8. Water Audit Data Validation The Most Important Components

9. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Challenge Accuracy of System Input Meters Comparative Meter Test Volumetric Meter Test

10. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Challenge Accuracy of System Input Meters

11. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Challenge Accuracy of System Input Meters

12. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Challenge Accuracy of System Input Meters

13. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Challenge SCADA Data Accuracy

14. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy

15. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Validation is crucial • Second most significant volume that flows into AWWA water balance • Two components: • Billed metered consumption • Billed unmetered consumption

16. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Export of raw billing data (audit period plus 2 month on each side) • Typical billing data fields to be included: • Customer identification fields • Meter identification fields • Service type identification fields • Meter read and consumption fields – units • Trouble codes or flags

17. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Confirm relevant consumption volumes: • Which accounts need to be included/excluded • Water and Sewer accounts • Sewer only accounts • AG accounts • Irrigation accounts • System meters

18. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Validation of consumption volumes: • Look for duplicates – meter numbers – consumption volumes • Look for other irregularities: - change of meter size - number of estimates - high consumption - consecutive zero consumption - etc.

19. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy

20. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Validation of consumption volumes: Step 1 – deduct first read from last read for each meter Step 2 – Sum consumption volume for each meter Step 3 – compare results of Step 1 and Step 2 for each meter

21. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Lag-time Analysis – the simple way:

22. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Lag-time Analysis – the simple way:

23. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Lag-time Analysis – PRORATING:

24. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Validate Billing Data Accuracy • Lag-time Analysis – PRORATING:

25. Water Audit Tasks – Critical Data Validation • Task: Assess Customer Meter Accuracy

26. Water Audit – Things to Consider • Bring all the stakeholders together • Discuss current data collection and validation efforts – get input from all departments • Have a water audit champion who collects all the data and puts the audit together • Use the AWWA water audit data validation score to assess current data validity and work on improving data validity over time • Use the audit as a management tool to improve financial viability of your utility

27. Thank You! reinhard.sturm@wso.us paul.johnson@wso.us