1. A large meter chamber
A leak
A PRV station
Leak noise correlators
MANAGING WATER LOSS IN SMALL SYSTEMS PRESENTER: RYAN LESYSHEN, M.Sc. P.Eng

2. A bit about me… Ryan Lesyshen M.Sc., P.Eng 2003 - 2005 2005 - 2007
Completed Masters related to Watermain Leak Detection at University of Saskatchewan
Work in New Zealand including finding leaks, implementing pressure management and big stormwater projects.
Work for KWL. Water loss management plans, audits, condition assessment, water system master planning, infrastructure design and construction.

3. Why Do You Need to Manage Water Loss?
1. Many small Vancouver Island water systems have strained source capacity.
Very dry summer conditions
Climate Change
Under-performing wells / insufficient aquifers
Impacts on aquatic life
2. Small water systems have limited funding sources so every dollar counts.
Lost revenue from meter under-registration.
Increased treatment and pumping costs from real losses.
Reducing leakage can defer source capacity upgrades

4. Why Do You Need to Manage Water Loss?
Tree-ring data suggest B.C. is facing harshest droughts in 350 years Source: The Globe and Mail May 04, 2016
Vancouver Island rated in extreme drought
in July 2015, (BC government)
The Level 4 drought alert for southeastern Vancouver Island comes five days earlier than last year.
(B.C. Government) - Referring Conditions as of June 28, 2016

5. Why Do You Need to Manage Water Loss?
RUNNING ON EMPTY – On Vancouver Island, summer droughts are the new normal Source: CBC Oct. 20, 2016
Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands residents are being urged to reduce water consumption immediately as weather conditions are expected to remain hot and dry in the coming weeks. Source: Global News Aug. 8, 2014
Extreme drought on Vancouver Island prompts fishing ban - A virtually non-existent snow pack, lack of rain taking its toll on Island rivers Source: Business Vancouver July 3, 2015
Summer is just one week old, but already southeastern Vancouver Island has hit the driest drought levels set by the province. Source: CBC June 28, 2016
This years summer forecast has a larger margin of uncertainty than previous years. At this point BC is expected to have a warmer summer than last year, however we do not expect that any region will experience severe drought conditions, but there are signs that BC will become dry as the season progresses with an increasing threat for wildfires. Source: The Weather Network March 20, 2017
2014
2015
2016
2017

6. What is Water Loss Management?
Strategies and tools to assist water utilities in their important goal of reducing non-revenue water. Water Loss Management is integral to the good management of any water supply system.
Leak Detection Equipment for finding Real Losses
Strategies and tools for Managing Real Losses

7. Terminology Non-Revenue Water Consists of: Real Losses Apparent Losses
Service Leaks
Weepers (Undetectable)
Reservoir leakage
Main Leaks
Major Ruptures / Failures
Apparent Losses
Meter Under-Registration
Mechanical Wear
Over-sized meter
Authorized Unbilled consumption
Billing Errors
Theft

8. What’s a Normal Amount of Water Loss?
Depends on the size of the system
Benchmark to a systems theoretical minimum level of water loss (UARL).
1 – 2 times the UARL = very well managed system
2 – 3 times the UARL = doing pretty good
3 – 4 times the UARL = average performer (some easy reductions with leak detection may be possible)
4 – 5 times the UARL = definite room for improvement
> 5 time the UARL = Leak detection easily justified
SYSTEM
Lm (km)
Nc (#)
Lp (km)
P (mH)
UARL (L/s)
Current Losses (L/s)
ILI Est.
Sooke
132
4,415 44 50 4 10
2.5
Leak Sizes
< 0.1 L/s (pinhole leak) – 3 L/s (large service leak)
0.1 L/s – 0.2 L/s (small leak) – 6 L/s (very large leak)
0.25 L/s – 0.5 L/s (medium leak) > 6 L/s (pressure loss)

9. Managing Non-Revenue Water
What Should We Do at Minimum
Managing Real Losses
Source meter with good low flow capability. Ability to data-log hourly flow.
Monitor source meter data (review night flows and track )
Track break locations, materials and failure type
Replace pipe with high break frequency
Integrate water loss testing with other operational tasks
Reduce pressures where possible
Hire competent pipe installers and designers, use good materials.
Managing Apparent Losses
AWWA M36 Water Audit
Get to know your customer data - Flag low billing volumes and oversized meters
Replace residential meters approx. every years
Right size meters for large customers
Test/Replace large customer meters (more frequently than residential meters)
INTEGRATE OPERATIONAL TASKS WITH CURRENT WORK TASKS

10. Managing Real Water Loss
Pressure Management
Triggers: Background Leakage Levels, Burst Frequency & Rate of Rise of Leakage
Current Real Losses
Unavoidable Losses
Speed of Repairs and Quality of Workmanship
Active Leakage Control
Asset Management
Trigger: High night flow (Flow Monitoring)
Trigger: Performance Monitoring
Success in WLM is measured by sustained levels of water supply service, maintained acceptable volumes of water loss, and least cost provision of water within infrastructure subject to deterioration and a limited life cycle. A one-time immediate reduction in leakage through a leak detection find and fix program, can quickly backslide. DATA.
Triggers: Background Leakage Levels, Burst Frequency & Rate of Rise of Leakage

11. Bursts per 1000 properties per year
PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
LOWERING SYSTEM PRESSURES
Pressure reduction : leakage relationship is 1:1
(20% pressure reduction = 20% leakage reduction)
Reduced burst rate & reduced maintenance costs
Bursts per 1000 properties per year
Average Pressure (mH)

12. PRESSURE MANAGEMENT - Kimberley
Downtown Pressure Zone
Average Pressure = 102 PSI
Max Pressure = 179 PSI
Min Pressure = 26 PSI
Break Frequency = 14 / 100km / year
Proposed Pressure Zone
52 PSI pressure reduction
1 new station & 1 station reconfiguration
Class D Cost = $230,000
Existing Losses = 620 ML/year
Cost of Losses = $15,000/year
Cost of breaks = $53,000/year
Cost Savings1 = $14,700/year
1 Based on remaining asset life = 34 years

13. ASSET MANAGEMENT WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO REPLACE PIPES?
Based on Typical Planning Estimates?
Ductile Iron = years
Asbestos Cement = years
Old Cast Iron = 100 years
Newer Cast Iron = years
PVC = 100+ years OR
Based on break data and levels of background leakage
(an economic analysis)?
YOU CAN “HANG YOUR HAT” ON DATA BASED DECISION MAKING

14. ASSET MANAGEMENT ANALYZING BREAK FREQUENCY BREAKS / 100KM / YEAR
POSITIVE BUSINESS CASE LIKELY
Pipe Material
Pipe Diameter (mm)
% of System Break Frequency (Breaks/100km/year)

15. ASSET MANAGEMENT LEVELS OF BACKGROUND LEAKAGE
Assessed after all leaks found by a leak detection contractor are fixed.
small weeping leaks that you can’t detect with equipment.
increases as pipes age. Worse in some material types.
Poor installation practices can begin a pipes life with high background leakage levels that can never be fully repaired.

16. ACTIVE LEAKAGE CONTROL
MONITORING FLOWS
MINIMUM NIGHT FLOW ANALYSIS

17. ACTIVE LEAKAGE CONTROL
STEP TESTING
Step 3
Step 2
Step 1
Step 4 M
Data Logger 17
Close During Test
Close Prior to Test

18. ACTIVE LEAKAGE CONTROL
STEP TESTING - RESULTS

19. ACTIVE LEAKAGE CONTROL
LEAK DETECTION EQUIPMENT
~ $25-$30K to purchase +
Operator training and practise
VERSUS
Costs for contracting leak detection works:
~ $ /km + $1000 for mob

20. ACTIVE LEAKAGE CONTROL
OTHER LEAK DETECTION EQUIPMENT
~ $3,000 / km + large mobilization fee.
Need for high flow to propel instrument (water wasted through hydrants)

21. City of Port Moody – Correlating Loggers
How Correlating Loggers are Utilized:
20 loggers deployed with m spacing.
Lift and shift – move loggers daily. Download data and re-deploy.
Loggers identify the presence of leak noise and will correlate leak location between logger locations.
Technology offers a significant reduction in operational effort.
Others using this technology: Metro Van, District of North Vancouver.

22. REDUCING APPARENT LOSSES
M36 Water Audits
Meter Replacement Programs
Review of Customer Meter Data
Right Sizing Meters
1 a. Discuss what is needed for a successful water loss management program
1 b. Discuss meter selection sizing and accuracy and tools like FlowWorks (alarm on high night flow)

23. REDUCING APPARENT LOSSES
AWWA M36 WATER BALANCE
System Input Volume
Authorized Consumption
Billed Authorized Consumption
Billed Water Exported
Revenue Water
Billed Metered Consumption
Billed Unmetered Consumption
Unbilled Authorized Consumption
Unbilled Metered Consumption
Non- revenue Water
Unbilled Unmetered Consumption
Water Losses
Apparent Losses
Unauthorized Consumption
Customer Metering Inaccuracies
Systematic Data Handling Errors
Real Losses
Leakage on Transmission and Distribution Mains
Leakage and Overflows at Utility’s Storage Tanks
Leakage on Service Connections up to point of Customer metering

24. REDUCING APPARENT LOSSES
METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS
Optimize replacement timing to minimize total cost of providing service.
Average Findings – Optimal replacement at years

25. REDUCING APPARENT LOSSES
Top 20 Meter Replacements
Priority
Install Year
Meter Size
Savings 1
2001
150
$1,698 2
2008
$658 3
1995
100
$594 4
$579 5
$546 6
1991
$531 7
1989
$321 8
2009
$295 9
$291 10
$277 11
2000
$249 12
1997
$245 13
1987 50
$250 14
$232 15
$240 16
2005 75
$226 17
1992
$225 18
$203 19
$196 20
2004
$195
TOTAL
$8,052
REVIEW OF CUSTOMER METER DATA

26. Nanaimo Water Audit REAL LOSSES SYSTEM 1,508 ML/year
System Input = 15,333 ML/year
615 km pipe
Population = 84,000 people
24,800 customer meters
26 pressure zones
REAL LOSSES
1,508 ML/year
Cost of Real Loss = $46,000/year
ILI = 1.5 (Very Good)
APPARENT LOSSES
438 ML/year
Cost Apparent Losses = $440,000/year

27. Nanaimo - Cost of Non-Revenue Water
Real Losses and Unbilled Authorized Consumption make up 90% of non-revenue water however they only represent 21% of the total cost of non-revenue water ($115,000).
The small volume of Apparent Losses, represents 79% of the total cost of non-revenue water ($440,000).
Apparent Losses

28. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Ryan Lesyshen, M.Sc., P.Eng
Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Limited
Phone: