Real-Time Non-Revenue Water: A BC Blue Solution

Introduction

• Presenters: Michael Carl, Dennis Mulichak, Jacob Young
• Focus: Non-revenue water monitoring and management

Understanding Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

• Definition: Water treated and pumped but not paid for
• Issues:
  • Leads to early supply capacity improvement projects
  • Indicator of a leaky system, potential pipe breaks

Technological Advancements

• Traditional Monitoring:
  • Data from segregated sources and manual meter readings
  • Meter readings done monthly, monitoring not more frequent than annually
• Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI):
  • Real-time data from metered consumption
  • Integrating real-time data allows for real-time monitoring of NRW
  • Benefits:
    • Identify/respond to NRW changes immediately
    • Eliminate unnecessary operating costs
    • Capture lost revenue
    • Address leaks before they become breaks
    • Reduce water loss and defer supply projects

Case Study: Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District

• Service Area: Over half of Salt Lake County, Utah
• Project Goals:
  • Develop an easy-to-use tool
  • Reduce operating costs
• Challenges:
  • Aligning SCADA data (second/sub-second/minute) with AMI data (hourly/batched)
  • Segmenting NRW into subsystems for better identification of issues
• Tool Features:
  • Analytics and Dashboards:
    • Overall system NRW monitoring
    • Monthly and 12-month view
    • Subsystem analysis with gauge dials for anomaly detection
  • Real-time Use:
    • Daily tracking of NRW
    • Pinpointing periods of instability and high NRW
    • Identifying operational changes causing NRW spikes

Benefits Highlighted by Users

• Reduced redundancy and time for data compilation/analysis
• Improved reporting processes

Conclusion

• Summary: From reactive to proactive NRW management
• Results: Significant cost reductions
• Call to Action: Contact the team for more information