Recommendations for Urban Wholesale Distribution Systems Water-Loss Audit Reporting, February 2020

Organization: California Department of Water Resources

Advisor/Co-contributor: Maddaus Water Management

MWM was an advisor and co-contributor for this DWR publication regarding urban water loss audit reporting procedures. SB 555 (Wolk, 2015) requires urban retail water suppliers to submit water loss audits to the state by October 1st of each year. Through requirements set forth in the California Water Code, DWR was required to establish regulations for conducting and validating water loss audits, technical qualifications for persons performing water loss audit validation, and reporting requirements for submitting validated water loss audits to DWR. The Water Loss Audit Reporting Program provides guidance on how water agencies can identify and eliminate water loss in water distribution systems. Once an agency has determined the water losses and performed a benefit-cost analysis to verify economic feasibility of addressing losses, a leak detection program may be established. AWWA’s M36 Manual (the third edition of which was co-authored by MWM) provides information on what steps are required to establish and perform a leak detection program, as well as more information on retailer water audits.