March 2016, Vol. 71, No. 3
Newsline
$3.2 million Approved for California Water Audit Validation
In an action approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board earlier this year, the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) will receive $3.2 million over the next two years to assist California’s water agencies in producing validated system water audits.
Precise water audits are the first step in developing systematic water management programs to cut unnecessary losses of both water and revenue, according to industry experts. Legislation from 2014 and 2015 require the approximately 450 urban water systems to submit validated water audits to California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR), but proponents say utilities’ self interest in determining and curbing unknown losses of water and money should make the program tremendously popular.
Sue Mosburg, the past chair of CA-NV AWWA, said the organization’s current goal is to work as a real partner with every water agency in California by meeting them at their level of understanding, and providing the assistance and support they need to work toward the most economically efficient water management.
In the midst of approving funding for the uncontested program, Water Board chair Felicia Marcus and board member Steven Moore both agreed on the importance of this project to the state of California.
The Water Loss Control Collaborative approved for state funding is a 23-month program with multiple sessions of technical review and assistance. The program was partially modeled after a statewide water loss control program in Georgia, which experienced great success. The program consists of a two-pronged approach to meet utilities at their level of expertise with the water loss control concepts; it recognizes the efforts of California utilities that have already completed water audits following the AWWA Manual M36 methodology, which incorporates the use of the AWWA Water Audit Software.
Phase 1 was designed to accommodate new learners, early adopters and advanced practitioners, culminating in the universal submittal of validated AWWA M36 water audits by all retail urban water utilities in California. The learning model is built upon a series of progressive steps, providing practical application and learning through reinforcement. Approximately 130 California water agencies have submitted water audit results to California Urban Water Conservation Council in the past, in compliance with a recognized Best Management Practice.
This program will assist DWR in meeting its obligations under SB 555, which calls on DWR to aid water utilities with training and technical assistance. The CA-NV AWWA program is tailor-made to meet that goal, said Tim Worley, Executive Director of CA-NV AWWA.
The AWWA Water Loss Control Committee developed the free AWWA Water Audit Software, and keeps an extensive storehouse of information on water loss control subjects. www.ca-nv-awwa.org.
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