Solving Todays Problems with Tomorrows Solutions

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Solving Todays Problems with Tomorrows
Solutions
Tom Abt President Utility Solutions,
LLC 770-573-7243 www.UtilitySolutions.org
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UNACCOUNTED FOR WATER LOSS
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WATER LOSS

• A water main break can spill over 1 million
  gallons of water in 48 hours, at a rate of 400
  gallons per minute (gpm).
• A chronic service line leak of 7 gpm will lose
  more water every 90 days and will typically run
  undetected for several years.
• One in approximately every 750 services will fail
  every 12 months.

IMPACT
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BY THE NUMBERS
1/8 break at 80 psi
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CAUSES

• Old Pipelines
• Corrosion
• Poor Valve Maintenance
• Mechanical Failure

Breaks in transmission and distribution pipes may
occur randomly due to corrosion and stress,
ground movement or third party damage.
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CHALLENGES

• Law of Gravity
• Majority of Leaks Never Visible
• Weather
• Locating/Map Accuracy
• Accessibility
• Costs
• Expertise Knowledge

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STRATEGY

• Complete System Survey
• Replace Leak-Prone Pipes
• Monitor
• Training

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Leak Detection at C.C.W.A.
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HISTORY
CCWA produces up to 39 million gallons of potable
water a day.

• Potable water storage capacity of 35.6 million
  gallons
• Stored in 10 ground and 8 elevated tanks
• Own and maintain 5 raw water reservoirs that
  provide raw water to 3 water production
  facilities
• Serves a population of 260,000 people through a
  system of distribution mains 1,265 miles long

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Non-Revenue Water Loss
March 2000 Non-revenue water loss nearing 20
October 2004 Non-revenue water loss at 11
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LEAKS DISCOVERED
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LEAKS FOUND
6 Beam Break 160 GPM
¾bypass on 8 Fire Line 30 GPM
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LEAKS FOUND
6 Beam Break 508 GPM
¾ Galvanized Service Line 9 GPM
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LEAKS FOUND
¾ Copper Service Line 9 GPM
6 A.C. Pipe Split 160 GPM
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OLD SCHOOL

• The leak must be near the source.
• The leak cant be there because water doesnt
  flow uphill.
• I know there's no leak here because we dug this a
  couple of months ago.
• We tested the water and its not drinking water.

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WOODSTOCK
2 YEARS
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CHEROKEE COUNTY
5 YEARS
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PROGRAM SUMMARY
Year Leaks Gallons Recovered
Production Cost 2000 47
735,445,800 1,220,840.03
2001 48 506,941,200
927,702.40 2002 16
134,810,700
338,374.86 2003 48
462,468,000 1,114,547.
88 2004 26 237,308,400
688,194.36
March 2000 October 2004 179 leaks discovered
and repaired 2, 076, 974,100 gallons 4, 289,
659. 53 production cost savings
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PRODUCTION PER CUSTOMER

• 1999
• Served 61,200 water customers
• Produced/Purchased 10.5 billion gallons per year
• 171,568 gallons/customer/year
• Currently
• Serve 73,600 water customers
• Producing/Purchasing 9.9 billion gallons per year
  
• 134,510 gallons/customer/year

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Cost of Program

• Total expended including Initial Investment,
  Hardware/Software Upgrade, Salaries, and
  Operating Expenses is 472,922.00
• Projected annual operating costs 96,229.00
• For every dollar expended they recovered 9.07 in
  Production savings

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This programs success equates to a decreased
production requirement of 5.8 MGD, equal to over
50 of the capacity of their Freeman Road Water
Production Facility alleviating the need for
Plant Expansions for several years.
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ALTERNATIVES

• Visual Inspection
• Pressure Tests
• Ultrasound
• Monitoring

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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SURVEY

• Digital Audio Processor
• Dynamic range compression
• Accentuates water leak noise
• Reduces loud noises
• Detects water leaks other instruments cannot
  detect
• Precise digital filters block ambient noise
• Automatic rejection of electrical interference
  (60dB)

EQUIPMENT
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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SURVEY

• DigiCorrs Innovative Digital Correlation
  Technology
• On-demand, real-time leak pinpointing
• Flexible leak analysis
• Systematic on-line pipe section survey without
  exposing large sections of the pipeline
• Completely non-intrusive
• Assess up to 1 mile of pipeline in 15 min.

EQUIPMENT
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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SURVEY
MLOG is a network of intelligent, leak detecting
sensors, or loggers, that monitor the entire
water distribution system 365 days a year. Each
night MLOG sensors analyze sound patterns in
their environment, detecting new, evolving and
pre-existing leaks automatically.
EQUIPMENT
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The Digital Difference
Flow Metrix used to create digital images of both
area maps and detailed street plans used by the
Clayton County Water Authority.
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BENEFITS

• Improved Distribution System Map
• Lower Maintenance Costs
• Extended Life of Assets
• Improved System Efficiency and Profitability
• Improved Constituent Opinion

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RESULTS

• Clayton County - Saving over 1 million annually
  with monitoring system
• City of Hapeville - 18 leaks found in 24 miles
  of pipeline only 2 leaks visible at surface
• Douglas County Finding 2-3 leaks a week using
  proper techniques
• Cobb County No leak detection program in 2007
  now finding 2 leaks a week with training and
  technology supplied by Utility Solutions.

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Several significant leaks were found during the
survey that might have gone unnoticed had it not
been for the advanced technology used by Utility
Solutions. I would estimate that we have
repaired leaks totaling about 2.0 million gallons
per month that we were not aware of. Jim Sapp,
Supt. Operations Water Sewer City of Hapeville,
GA
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I was impressed with how you emphasized to the
guys not to assume anything and to cover all the
basics first. In our line of business I have
seen that too many times. Also the guys seem
more confident using the DLD than before. I am
sure the training will help our Leak Detection
Crew in finding more leaks in the future. I am
appreciative we have a representative in the area
that is so helpful. Ricky Jacobs, Systems
Maintenance Supt. Douglasville-Douglas County
Water Sewer
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THE EXPERTS
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Solving Todays Problems with Tomorrows
Solutions Tom Abt President Utility Solutions,
LLC 770-573-7243 www.UtilitySolutions.org
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RATE OF LEAKAGE FORMULA
Formula for Circular Orifice Q 30.394
x A x ?P Formula for Other Opening Q
22.796 x A x ?P A Area of Opening in
Square Inches P Pressure (PSI) Q Gallons
Per Minute (GPM) 55 7.4 60 7.7 65
8.1 70 8.4 75 8.7 80 8.9 85
9.2 90 9.5 95 9.7 100
10.0 Example 6 Main with 1/8 wide beam break
at 80 psi GPM 30.394 x (3.14 x 6 x 1.25) x
?80 30.394 x 2.35 x 8.94 638.5 gpm