PILOT LEAK DETECTION PROJECT
A Project of the Susquehanna River Basin Water Conservation Technical Assistance and Training Program

An Introduction
The Three Major Components of the Program
The Participating Water Systems
The Workshops

What is the Susquehanna River Basin Water Conservation Technical Assistance and Training Program?

In 2004, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) in partnership with the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association (PRWA) received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Growing Greener Program to establish a water conservation program in the Pennsylvania portion of the Susquehanna basin. Specifically, this grant calls for the partners to establish a pilot leak detection project targeted to small municipal water systems.

Leaks in water distribution systems can account for up to 70 percent of the treated drinking water that is pumped. Locating and repairing system leaks can drastically reduce the amount of water that is lost, as well as reduce the costs for obtaining, treating and pressurizing water supplies.

When will this pilot project conclude?
The project is scheduled to conclude in June 2007.

How to get more information.
Susan Obleski, Director of Communications
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
1721 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102-2391
Phone: (717) 238-0423 ext. 316
E-mail: sobleski@srbc.net
Web Site: www.srbc.net/waterconservationprogram.htm

John Hood, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Rural Water Association
138 West Bishop Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (800) 653-PRWA
E-mail: jhood@prwa.com
Web Site: www.prwa.com

What are the three major components of the pilot leak detection project?

First Component – Select Participating Water Systems. SRBC and PRWA are to identify 10 small public water systems that want to participate voluntarily in the pilot project. The partners established the following criteria for selecting the participating systems: (1) the system’s water loss must exceed 20 percent; and (2) priority should be given to systems located in areas identified by SRBC as potentially groundwater stressed areas.

Status – Partners selected all 10 systems by September 2005:
1. Centre Hall Borough Water Department, Centre Co.
2. Kline Township Municipal Authority, Schuylkill Co.
3. Lykens Borough Water Authority, Dauphin Co.
4. Manheim Borough Water Authority, Lancaster Co.
5. Middletown Borough Water Authority, Dauphin Co.
6. Milesburg Borough Water Authority, Centre Co.
7. Renovo Borough Water Department, Clinton Co.
8. South Renovo Borough Water Department, Clinton Co.
9. Walker Township Water Association, Centre Co.
10. Wrightsville Borough Municipal Authority, York Co.

Second Component – Develop and Conduct In-House Leak Detection Programs. For the 10 selected systems, PRWA is to develop an on-going, in-house leak detection program and establish proper procedures and practices for water accountability and financing. The leak detection process is to include three phases:

* Perform a water audit at all 10 systems to determine the percentage of their unaccounted-for water losses.
* Perform a leak detection survey to detect the estimated size of each leak. During this survey, distribution system maps are to be reviewed and system personnel are to receive training on how to use the leak detection equipment to properly conduct the survey.
* Perform a basic rate study, when requested by the system operator, to determine if the water rates are adequate for each system’s operation.

Status – PRWA began activities in May 2005 and will complete this component by June 2007.

Third Component – Provide Training. SRBC and PRWA are to establish and conduct 20 workshops to educate community water systems and their board members (13 workshops are to be scheduled and 7 others are to be conducted upon request). The workshops are to include educational materials, including DEP’s Water System Self-Assessment Guide and audit forms to help the systems prepare their Annual Water Supply Report. The partners also will provide information on the Pennsylvania Water Resources Planning Act, known as Act 220 of 2002. At the completion of the program and the workshops, the partners will issue certificates to the communities of the participating water systems certifying them as “Water Saving” communities.

There is a $15 fee to attend workshops. Water system operators who participate in the workshops are eligible for continuing education credits.

Status – Partners scheduled 13 workshops:

Fall 2005
* September 20 – Line Locating and Water Leak Detection, Wellsboro Borough Building
* September 27 – Line Locating and Water Leak Detection, York County Extension Office
* October 19 – Rate Setting for Public Water and Wastewater Systems, Wellsboro Borough Building
* November 1 – Rate Setting for Public Water and Wastewater Systems, York County Extension Office
* December 6 – Water Meters – Operation and Maintenance, Tyrone Water
* December 7 – Water Meters – Operation and Maintenance, Family House Restaurant, Mifflintown

Spring 2006
* Line Locating and Water Leak Detection (2 sessions)
* Setting Rates (2 sessions)
* Conducting Water Audits and Conserving Water (2 sessions)
* Training also will be offered on grant writing and funding opportunities for leak repair (1 session)

Again, SRBC and PRWA will conduct 7 additional workshops upon request from system operators and/or board members.