AWWA ACE68667

Project Saving Water, Saving Money (the Project) is part of a Gwinnett County-wide program to help reduce non-revenue water. This paper focuses on two of the most significant components of the county's non-revenue water reduction program, a county-wide leak detection program and the initiation of a large meter testing program. Leak detection survey field activities were conducted from March 2006 through January 2007. The leak detection survey included all the water mains within the county with the exception of the cities of Buford, Suwanee, Norcross, and Lawrenceville. The survey area of approximately 430 square miles was divided into geographic regions according to the County GIS Grid system. The investigation included water mains, fire hydrants, accessible mainline valves, and selected service connections. Water system characteristics and field conditions vary. As such, these variations can and sometimes did affect the survey practices and results. These factors and the procedures to minimize the effects are provided in the paper. The procedures followed by the survey crews when a leak was encountered included the following: hydrant leaks - often the survey crews were able to immediately stop the leak by exercising the hydrants and 168 hydrants leaks were eliminated immediately by the survey crews; valve leaks - the survey crews were able to stop 15 valve leaks in the field by exercising the valves; and, customer meters - rotary piston style meters are at times susceptible to malfunction under low flow conditions. When these meters were tested by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), hose bibs were opened to high flow amounts. The meters operated normally at the intermediate and higher flow conditions, but 28 meters malfunctioned at low flows. The large meter testing pilot program examined site conditions at each meter location regarding the accessibility. If accessible, the meter was inspected using the following criteria: the proper meter type for the application; appropriate size and installation; and, functional piping and appurtenances. The paper lists the National Standards used for large meter testing, along with the advantages of on-site testing. Specific conclusions from the two components of the county's non-revenue water reduction program, and the county's overall non-revenue abatement program are provided. Includes figures.