October 7, 1987 Leak Attachment

Leaks Attachment:

The month of September has given BPWD a water loss figure of 18.8% or about 6,667 gallons per day (4.63 gallons per minute) which costs $16.24 per day or $487.00 per month. Assuming half of this is acceptable due to inherent deficiencies of water pipe construction, we are left with a $240.00 per month cost which we should not be incurring.

Reasons: BPWD is getting older (11+ years). Many things begin to happen when equipment and facilities have been in operation that long and in the ground subject to mechanical forces of nature. Things just wear out.

I have consulted Pitometer Associates, Mr. Bill Gros (312-236-5655); Health Consultants, Belle Vernon, PA Mr. Ron Moore (412-929-2300); Leak Detection Services, 22 S. Main, Caseyville, IL Mr. Nelson Matter as a Rockwell Lisle, IL Mr. Don Wardynski (312-852-0026). I will sum up the pros and cons and make suggestions.

Leaks do not become detectable with any assurance of location by standard hydroponic techniques until they reach 500 gallons per day per mile of main. (BPWD has 26 miles of water main) BPWD would have to have a 13,000 GPD or 390,000 GPM loss. In fact, all people I talked to indicated that BPWD has a number of very small leaks (4.63 gallons a minute) which are very hard to locate.

We have already done the standard leak detection/theft detection survey which you will remember indicated that the leaks were small.

Small leaks usually result from 1) Master meters over registering-reverse of small residential meters which tend to under register with age. 2) Service lines tend to develop leaks – a reason to keep out service lines short. 3) Connections to water meter yoke assemblies. 4) Joints in water mains – BPWD uses gaskets. 5) Customer water meters under register with age when they approach 10 years in service.

23 of residential water flow into the home at less than 1 gallon per minute. Residential meters should be tested and calibrated to ¼ and ¾ gallons per minute in order to test and calibrate accuracy.

It is recommended that sleeves be used in road boring for water services. This increase initial cost but saves on long term maintenance, leak detection and repairs, etc.

Leak Detection Methods:

1. Check mains and meter immediately after first heavy frost or light snow before temperatures rise. Heat differential from leaking water will create a warm spot in the soil if not a wet spot thus revealing a small leak which would otherwise go undetected.
2. Use pressure gauge attached to yoke on residential meter, take reading, isolate that water main section by closing off necessary gate valves, wait a while and take a pressure reading again. Must be done when what use is nil. A decrease in pressure will indicate a small leak in that area. Helps in reducing/defining that area of the leak.
3. Use a 5 gallon plastic bucket, fill it to the brim with clean water. Connect the meter yoke to a hose and put the hose into the bucket, then isolate that section of a water main and if there is a leak, the water will be sucked out of the bucket is decontaminated and sterile conditions are maintained and will reduce health hazards.

Both Pitometer and Heath Consultants recommend against a leak survey using their “A qua scope sound equipment” due to the size of the leak that we are dealing with. Cost to do our system would be in the neighborhood of $3,000.00 for 1 weeks work for which there can be no guarantee of success in pin pointing the leaks.

Leak Detection Survey, Mr. Nelson Matter, indicated that his company is currently making field test of a new system developed in Europe that theoretically is supposed to locate even small leaks. He will be in touch with us as he is currently in TN doing a field test at this moment with this new technology.

Since we know our meters are old we can replace the older ones based on our inventory information. Rockwell will send us a lease purchase plan for total replacement of all meters. We would have to apply for this “loan” at that time the percentage rate could be established at his thinks about 7.7 or 8% for a 3-, 4-, or 5-year period. Doing some rough estimating BPWD might have a loan payable at $209 per month for 4 years. This is based on $38.00 per meter cost and does not include installation.

Recommendations:

1. There are several meters which have water standing in them now – during this dry period – which indicated a leak. Issue work order to have them repaired.
2. T=There are several meters which need the debris cleaned out from the bottom of the meter pits which may reveal some small leaks.
3. There are several meters which will need to be dug up in re-installed where we KNOW there are leaks.
4. Have the master meter calibrated immediately and done every year hereafter to ensure proper metering.

So much for things that can be done immediately. Longer term and even more expensive solutions involve identifying the older meters and replacing them. We can do this on our worn or with the help of Rockwell under their Lease Purchase Plan.

Long Term:

1. Replace old meters
2. Institute policy of using pipe sleeves when boring under roads for customer services.
3. Move the remaining meters which are in some cases 100’s of feet from the mains.
4. Do a pressure survey of the entire district which would indicate areas and meters subject to high pressure and therefore possibly damaged and under registering.

None of these things are “cheap”, all of these are standard recommended and practical remedies which will not only help control leaks but provide better customer service.