AUSTIN, Texas —
Water loss is increasing in the City of Austin.
In 2023, Austin Water reported losing 7.1 billion gallons of drinking water, or the equivalent of Lake Austin's size.
The Texas Water Development Board is still reviewing the 2023 Water Loss Audit from Austin Water. But state data showed that Austin Water lost a little more than the 6.9 billion gallons in 2022, and 6.5 billion gallons of water in 2021.
A new report presented to the Austin Water Task Force on Tuesday showed what the utility can do to reduce water loss from leaking pipes and water main breaks.
The city hired Black and Veatch last year to analyze Austin Water's existing water loss program. The outside firm made several recommendations that include:
- replacing poorly performing water service lines, improving leak detection activities
- implementing programmatic improvements to proactive leak detection activities
- strengthening data validation practices for large meters
- expanding data management and analysis tools across the water loss program
- improving estimates of unbilled authorized consumption (e.g., water for flushing and firefighting)
- implementing training for utility staff on reducing water loss during normal operations
- creating district metering areas to pilot reducing water loss through pressure management
- and improving production meter accuracy at water treatment plants
"Can't be overstated how important it is to get the beginning number right in our measurements to be sure about where we are standing,” Austin Water Engineer Matt Cullen said.
Austin Water leaders said they will implement all the recommendations to drive down water loss.
In a memo dated Oct. 2, 2024, Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson wrote to Mayor Kirk Watson and council members that the utility "has launched a cross-departmental team to execute these recommendations. Austin Water will develop a regular report to stakeholders on the status of these recommendations."
It also stated, "As a part of Austin Water’s focus on managing our community’s water resources in a resilient and sustainable manner, we work to proactively reduce our system water losses. Austin Water employs industry best practices related to water loss control and performs well compared to peer utilities. Water loss can result from a variety of reasons, primarily water main leaks and breaks. We have multiple programs focused on detecting and repairing leaks and responding to main breaks as quickly as possible."
The report's release comes several months after the original release date in June.