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<br />".'.'''~.t< . .. ".; ~ . ,. <br /> <br />" '~~~~;I}';~~;':'+~"-:-"~-~-- ., " <br /> <br />~ '.. . '...:, '~ <br /> <br />_.~_~_~--,,~_;l,-,~__________________. <br /> <br />,., .. ----~~- <br />" <br /> <br />,- <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />. .~. ' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Aside from the.need to "lead by example" ,there is the additional impetus that the City <br />is the third largest user of treated water (A.B. - 3700 ac.ft./yr.,C.S. U. - 1250 ac.ft./yr., <br />and City. 710 aC,ft.lyr.), and there are ample opportunities to significantly increase <br />the efficiency of uSe. ' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />a) Leak detection program.' <br /> <br />If all of the Utility's customers were metered, system losses could be readily <br />calculated with reasonable accuracy by subtracting the total of all of the metered <br />water use from the total water delivered by the Water Treatment Plant. <br />However, with only about half of our delivered water being to metered customers, <br />we have two unknowns--the system losses and the water use by non-metered <br />customers. The best estimate is that our system losses are approximately 7 % of <br />the total amount delivered. This would represent about 2100 acre-feet of losses <br />per year. Many other cities--especially on the east coast--have documented <br />system losses in the 10 to 12 % range. When compared to these other cities. the <br />estimate is lower for our system because: (1) Fort Collins has a much newer and <br />structurally~sound distribution system, and (2) the structure of our soils is such <br />that a leak is more likely to surface and become apparent, rather than remain <br />sub-sUl;face. It is also important to note that, even though the system losses by <br />percentage may be lower for western U.S. cities, as compared with eastern U.S. <br />cities, the volwne of system losses may be comparable. That is due to the fact <br />that western cities typically deliver a significantly larger volume of water, per <br />capita, resulting from greater amounts of lawn irrigation. <br /> <br />Even though our estimated system losses are below many cities, cost-effective <br />methods of lowering the losses further are available. <br /> <br />The, Water Utility currently utilizes state-of-the-art electronic leak detection <br />equipment to pinpoint leaks in suspect locations of the distribution system. This <br />, is what might be referred to as a le-.ak pinpointing prograIlb--'This-oomrasts--witlr- - - <br />- -- - - - - - - - - - - a 1eaK aetectlon program, which would be using this same equipment to routinely <br />and repetitively "sweep" the entire distribution system for leaks within a defined <br />time period, such as every three years. A leak detection program would require <br />the commitment of one or two additional full-time staff. <br /> <br />There are several benefits to a leak detection program, in addition to the obvious <br />financial and public relations benefits. These include: (1) increased knowledge <br />of the distribution system; (2) reduced property damage; and (3) reduced legal <br />liability . <br /> <br />b) All City water use metered and on metered rate. <br /> <br />In order to comply with the Water Metering Act and to satisfy goal #1 stated <br /> <br />3 <br />