Best Management Practice: Distribution System Audits, Leak Detection, and Repair
A distribution system audit, leak detection, and repair programs help Federal facilities reduce water losses and make better use of limited water resources.
This page outlines best management practices for distribution system audits, leak detection, and repair across:
Overview
The average, circa 1940's, military facility looses more than 10% of its total water production and purchases to system leaks or poor metering practices (e.g., meter under registration and meter reading errors due to malfunction, poor installation, or wear). Regular surveys of distribution systems should always be conducted prior to obtaining additional water supplies. This can generate substantial benefits including:
-
Reduced water losses: Reducing water losses stretch existing supplies to meet increasing demand. This could defer the construction of new water facilities such as wells, reservoirs, or treatment plants.
-
Reduced operating costs: Repairing leaks saves money by reducing power costs to deliver water and chemical costs to treat water.
-
Increased knowledge of the distribution system: Becoming more familiar with the system, including knowing the location of mains and valves, empowers personnel to respond faster to emergencies such as main breaks.
-
Reduce property damage: Repairing system leaks prevents damage to property and safeguards public health and safety.
-
Improved justification for water management: Conducting routine water audits and verifying production and end point meters results in better accounting and helps validate the need to reduce water losses.
Operations and Maintenance
To maintain water efficiency in operations and maintenance, Federal agencies should complete a prescreening system audit. This determines the need for a full-scale system audit. The following two methods can be used (recommended every two years):
- Determine authorized users.
- Determine other verifiable water system uses.
- Determine total water supply into the system.
- Divide authorized users plus other verifiable uses by total supply into the system.
If this quantity is less than 0.9, a full-scale system audit is needed.
Or;
- Obtain and monitor minimum system flow after a system audit has been conducted. This is typically the flow rate at around 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m.
- Significant increases to the minimum system flow can be assumed leak related and indicates that a full-scale leak detection survey is necessary.
When indicated, facilities should complete full-scale water audits using the latest edition of the American Water Works Association Water Audit Software.
Retrofit and Replacement Options
The following retrofit and replacement options help Federal agencies maintain water efficiency across systems:
-
Repair leaks or replace pipes when leaks are found.
-
For specifics, consult with experts in the field. The first resource should be local or headquarters engineers, but do not overlook input from experienced contractors or other Government agencies.
Resources
The following resources provide guidance on water best management practices.
-
Distribution System Audits, Leak Detection, and Repair-Kirtland Air Force Base Leak Detection and Repair Program (PDF 178 KB): Outlines how a leak detection and repair program helped Kirtland Air Force Base perform distribution system audits, leak detection, and repair to conserve water site-wide. Download Adobe Reader.