Though each water utility faces unique water loss control challenges the thought process for developing a Water Loss Control Plan is not unique. the Water Loss Control Plan should:

1) help the system define and further its water loss reduction goals, and

2) only be one part of a comprehensive Water Loss Control Program.

This document will help you with both the plan and the overall program.

The comprehensive, free, open-access guide to leak detection technology and implementation described below can be found at the link under the description 

Leak Detection: Technology and Implementation
By Stuart Hamilton; Bambos Charalambous
IWA Publishing
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/9781789060850
ISBN electronic: 9781789060850
Publication date: January 2020 

Ageing infrastructure and declining water resources are major concerns with a growing global population. Controlling water loss has therefore become a priority for water utilities around the world. In order to improve their efficiencies, water utilities need to apply good practice in leak detection. 

To deal with losses in an effective manner, particularly from networks in water-scarce areas, water utility managers are increasingly turning to technology to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve reliability. Companies that continuously invest in technology and innovation should see a positive return on investment in terms of improving daily operations and collection and analysis of network data for decisionmaking and forward planning. 

Methodologies for achieving the best results to reduce water losses are continuously evolving. Water utilities and equipment manufacturers are increasingly working together to stretch the boundaries of current knowledge. This is leading to some innovative technologies and new product development to complement current methodologies. This book reflects the situation at the time of publication. 

This second edition of the book updates practices and technologies that have been introduced or further developed in recent years in leakage detection. It outlines recent advancements in technology used, such as satellite aided methods in leak location, pipeline inspection with thermal diagnostics, inspection of pipelines by air using infrared or thermal imaging cameras, drones for leak detection activities and even sniffer dogs. In addition, it is enriched with new case studies that provide useful examples of practical applications of several leak detection practices and technologies. 

ISBN: 9781789060843 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781789060850 (eBook)
ISBN: 9781789060867 (ePub) 

If a water utility is going to begin a water loss control program, it should clearly define and understand its goals for the program. There are many reasons a water utility may want to start a water loss control program. The American Water Works Association has identified twelve benefits of water auditing and loss control in the M36 Water Audits and Loss Control Programs manual, fourth edition. This document provides information about setting goals to define water loss control program expectations.

An editable Word template for documenting Water Audit procedures at a utility to facilitate the timely preparation of annual water audits using v6 of the AWWA Free Water Audit Software. The template contains audit definitions as well as sections to document: water loss control team members; loss control team meeting frequency; the locations for audit data; data derivation methodologies; parties responsible for developing audit data; and methods for communicating water audit results to internal and external stakeholders.

NMED has teamed with the Southwest Environmental Finance Center and Cavanaugh to provide this free training to community public water systems across the state. The training is based on the AWWA M36 Water Auditing & Loss Control Methodology that is the standard process used across the nation.

This book is filled with practical advice on how individuals can save water in and around their homes — starting right now. Tips range from simple efforts to more involved tasks
but all have an impact on community water consumption. By following these water conservation steps and by learning to appreciate just how precious water is, you can easily reduce water use throughout your community. Doing so will not only save water, it can help preserve the quality of life in your community for generations to come.

When using the AWWA Water Audit software you will find one input location for master meter and supply error adjustments for each of the following: volume from own sources, water imported and water exported. If you have more than one master meter for any of these three, you will need to calculate the flow weighted average meter error. This tool assists you with these calculations. You only need to input the total flow and meter error for each meter. The flow weighted average is then calculated for you and this number can be entered into the AWWA Water Audit software.

Table listing types of loss, tools to help reduce the loss, and a cost range.

As an alternative to the Water Audit Data Grading Sheets we have also created the Water Loss Audit Data Validity Worksheet (insert link), an Excel tool that will allow you to answer specific questions related to each audit data point and have your data validity scored automatically. Please note that while we have tested this tool thoroughly, it is still under development and you are previewing a beta version. The goal in developing this worksheet is to offer an easier method for obtaining data validity scores for the AWWA Water Audit Software, but (for now at least) the data validity scores generated by this worksheet are approximations only, and the only official score comes from the AWWA software. There are detailed instructions contained on the first tab in the Worksheet, which include instructions for reporting any errors you may find. The Water Loss Audit Data Validity Worksheet was created using Excel 2016 and may not function correctly on older versions of Excel.