A BETTER TOMORROW made possible Canadian Utilities Learn to Fly through Benchmarking of Water Loss Management Christine McCormack, P.Eng. September 13 th, 2005

Benchmarking Evolution Introduction to NWWBI Collecting PM data Comparison of results Water loss management strategies and best practices

What is Benchmarking? How well are we doing? How well do we compare with similar organizations? Are we getting value for money? How can we improve?

The Early Days Pilot study in 1997 – NRC, four wastewater utilities & Earth Tech Determine utility goals Ensure apples-to-apples comparison through on-site data collection Water Utilities joined in 2001

National Benchmarking 34 Wastewater Utilities 32 Water Utilities 15 Stormwater Utilities

Canadian Utilities

Water Utility Goals

Water Loss in 2001 Unaccounted for water Many using PM % of supply Adopted PM of m³/km/day of UFW Leak detection primary strategy Relevant to Reliable and Sustainable Goal

2000 UFW m³/km/day Min 55 L/conn/day Max 545 L/conn/day

Metric vs Process BM Metric Benchmarking Process Benchmarking Identify Performance Gap: How much Where When Management Commitment Employee Participation SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE How to Close the Gap Improved Knowledge Improved Practices Improved Processes

Water Loss Task Force Conference calls Breakout session at the Annual Workshop Sharing of BPs: IWA Water Balance, InfraGuide, AWWA etc Sharing of water loss reduction strategies

Water Loss in 2005 Non-Revenue Water 1.Transmission only systems PM: m³/km/day 2.Distribution & Integrated systems PM: L/connection/day

2003 NRW L/conn/day Min 105 L/conn/day Max 655 L/conn/day

2003 NRW & Pipe Age

Water Loss Reduction Strategies

Mission: Performance Improvement Learn from others Validate existing best practices Report back on PII at Annual Workshop – solutions, problems, ideas Group peer pressure

2005 Workshop - Abbotsford Previously had separate fire and domestic line to ICI customers New practice – combined domestic and fire line Eliminates unauthorized use Reduces O&M $

2005 Workshop - Calgary Water demand management – reduce per capita demand by 33% by 2032 (no change in total consumption despite 50% growth) Temporary DMAs, leak detection, main replacement, meter calibration

2005 Workshop - Peel 7 pressure zones 124 zone valves to maintain zone integrity = 248 dead end mains Flushing required to maintain water quality Pressure zone bypass (small pipe and control valve) with minor constant flushing minimizes flushing volumes, reducing NRW and $ but maintaining water quality

Leaks in the Far North

Victim

Pipe damage

Benefits of Water Loss BM Compare water loss to peers Share methodologies for estimating Water Balance components Share Canadian experiences with water loss reduction strategies Validate best practices by monitoring PM results

Conclusions Canadian utilities now have data to manage their water loss Water loss management has many strategies and applies to most of the utility goals Next steps: Collect ILI data

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