Meter readers, water conservation inspectors, distribution crews, and other utility
staff assist with detecting leaks caused by irrigation systems, meters, backflow devices,
fire hydrants, waterlines, fire protection lines, and wastewater lines. When leaks
are identified, the utility's emergency call center is notified to dispatch a serviceman
from the responsible division to the location of the leak. The responsible division
will do the necessary repairs to eliminate the leak or replace the faulty meter, fire
hydrant, water line, or wastewater line, if necessary. If a meter, an irrigation system,
or backflow device is found to be leaking on the private side, the property owner
will be notified and issued a written warning for failure to repair a controllable
leak. Failure to repair the private leak, after the second warning, will constitute
a citation and incur the penalties established in this plan.
The utilities department plans uses a sonic water leak detection device to locate
water leaks. The utilities department plans to implement a long-term water main replacement
and upgrade program in an effort to reduce the number of waterline leaks and breaks.
Based on a fifty-year life cycle, water lines will be replaced per year.
Water loss accounting to control water loss from water waste and unaccounted-for water
are part of the utilities department's routine operations. The standard universal
metering system, used by the utilities department, helps reduce the amount of unaccounted-for
water. Meter readers, water conservation inspectors, and other utilities department
staff assist by identifying and reporting any signs of illegal connections so that
they are addressed as promptly as possible by the responsible division. Those who
are found to be illegally connected to the city's water system face disconnection
of water service, penalties, and convictions, as deemed necessary. Waterline leaks
or breaks are reported to the utilities department by the public, 3-1-1 staff, or
other city personnel, and they are documented on NaviLine, a computerized system that
helps document and track the status of any work order issued to the utilities department.
Then distribution division crews respond quickly to repair or replace the waterlines
and provide the proper information to complete the computerized reports. These strategies
provide the ability to generate a more accurate estimate of the actual water losses
and also help evaluate costs and benefits associated with leak detection, repair,
and/or replacement of main waterlines.
