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Council hears water-loss update; staff reports drop from 71% to 63% as repairs continue
Summary
City staff told the council water loss dropped from 71% in April to 63% in May after targeted leak detection and repairs; staff said the figure is an early estimate and that a 25'30% loss is a reasonable long-term target, with continued monitoring and potential annual consultant work.
City staff reported a decrease in measured system water loss from 71% in April to 63% in May and outlined next steps to validate and sustain that improvement. The engineer said the decline reflects recent leak-detection work and repairs but cautioned the numbers are early estimates.
"We have seen a reduction in water loss from April to May from 71 to 63% so we are headed the right way," the engineer reported, noting the consultant'generated "leak cards" used to document repairs and prioritize outstanding fixes. Staff emphasized many underground leaks never surfaced, so estimates rely on acoustic listening and can vary.
The engineer said the consultant's leak cards show roughly half of the identified leaks have been fixed and the remainder are awaiting contractor work. He told the council that once the field work is complete, monthly data will better indicate the true loss rate and seasonal drying in summer may expose additional main-line failures that are easier to locate.
City staff framed 25'30% as a reasonable system target once repairs are complete. "I think 25 to 30% would be a goal that we should look forward to achieving," the engineer said, while also explaining that above about 30 gallons per minute leak rates the exact size is difficult to estimate acoustically.
The council discussed carrying the monitoring forward and the water and sewer committee is expected to review updated metrics over the coming months. Staff suggested hiring the leak-detection consultant periodically (possibly annually or biennially) to reassess as system conditions change.
Background and next steps: staff will continue to compile monthly data to confirm the trend, complete contractor repairs listed on the consultant's cards and report progress to the water and sewer committee at its next meeting. The council was told the current data represent only a portion of the months under review and that final percentages will firm up after more monitoring.
