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Utility staff report 2025 water-loss audit, warn of sewer capacity needs
Summary
Utility staff told the Board of Public Works that a validated 2025 water-loss audit found about 17.4% loss, no lead service lines have been confirmed so far, and long-term sewer trunk upgrades will be needed to handle growth and stormwater; the audit will be submitted to the state by Aug. 1.
Brian Jackson, staff presenting the utilities report to the Board of Public Works and Safety, said the city’s independently validated 2025 water-loss audit showed approximately 17.4% water loss and will be filed with the state by Aug. 1 after a final review with the validator.
The finding, Jackson said, is within the common range for municipal systems and helps the city identify leak-prone areas and improve efficiency. “We had approximately 17.4% of water loss,” Jackson told the board, adding that large emergency uses such as fire response and hydrant flushing make the figure hard to track exactly.
Jackson also gave operational figures for the most recent audit year: the utility pumped about 847 million gallons and sold roughly 291 million gallons to water resellers under existing contracts. The lead-service-line inventory remains in progress; Jackson reported that no lead service lines have been identified to date and that about 2,400 service lines still require field verification out of roughly 6,200 customer connections. “To date, no lead service lines have been identified within the system,” he said.
On wastewater infrastructure, Jackson said crews repaired recent structural failures on a primary sewer main and restored service, but he warned the board that a long-term capacity upgrade will be necessary. The current configuration includes an 18-inch sewer main that receives flow from a larger 24-inch main and a force main; Jackson said studies and engineering are needed to determine the appropriate replacement size. “A larger trunk sewer line is going to be required in the coming years,” he said.
The report also covered DNR easements that affect water and sewer infrastructure within Clifty Falls State Park; staff are working with the Department of Natural Resources to record historical easements and to modify one easement to support a planned Wells Drive lift-station upgrade.
What happens next: Jackson said he will finalize the audit with the validator, submit the full package to the state, continue field verification for the lead-service-line inventory (deadline Nov. 1, 2027) and advance engineering studies for the sewer-trunk upgrade.
