Conservation - Water Performance Report 2007
New Washington State Department of Health regulations require the City to report to our customers annually on the performance of our Water Conservation Program. We'll provide you with information about:
- How much water we produce.
- Leakage in our distribution system and steps taken to minimize that leakage.
- The goals of our Water Conservation Program and our progress toward achieving them.
- How our system is metered.
City water customers and interested parties will also receive our performance report in our 2009-2014 Water System Plan brochure to be mailed in late July.
Water System Performance:
In 2007, Olympia produced 3,034 million gallons (MG) of water from McAllister Springs and five of its six wells. Seventy-two percent of water produced, or 2,184 MG, was delivered to our customers through service meters. Seventeen percent, or 529 MG, was delivered to two wholesale customers - the City of Lacey and the Thurston County Public Utility District No. 1. Approximately 53 MG, or nearly 2 percent of water produced, was used for authorized, but unmetered uses, including firefighting, street sweeping, and water quality sampling.
Distribution System Leakage:
The Washington State Department of Health defines distribution system leakage as any water leaving the distribution system that is not authorized consumption. In 2007, Olympia's distribution system leakage was 268 MG, or 8.8 percent of water produced.
In 2007, distribution system leakage was accounted for as follows:
0.49 MG - water main, line, and service breaks......... |
0.03 % of production |
| 14.72 MG - small leaks found by leak detection survey.. |
0.49 % of production |
| 0.16 MG - theft of services................................................ |
0.01 % of production |
| 13.77 MG - improper use by construction permit holders........... |
0.45 % of production |
| 132.65 MG - service meter inaccuracy.................................. |
4.37 % of production |
| 106.04 MG - unknown water loss.......................................... |
3.50% of production |
The City has taken several steps to reduce distribution system leakage, including:
- Instituting a water loss tracking program in 2004.
- Conducting an ongoing leak detection program to find and fix small leaks.
- Finding and eliminating water theft.
- Requiring construction water permit holders to install water meters beginning in mid-2008
- Researching meter replacement options.
Water Conservation Program Goals:
In the 2004 Water System Plan, the City Council established the goal of reducing water use by 1% per connection per year through 2008. Progress occurred as follows:
- 2004 to 2005 - 4.23 % decrease in water use per connection
- 2005 to 2006 - 0.15 % increase in water use per connection
- 2006 to 2007 - 7.84 % decrease in water use per connection
Although the Water Conservation Program did not meet its goal in each of the three years; between 2004 and 2007 water use per connection decreased by an average of 3.97 percent each year.
Future Goal: The Drinking Water Utility is currently preparing its 2009-2014 Water System Plan. The water savings goal proposed in the upcoming Plan is to reduce water use by 5 percent per connection between 2009 and 2014. A Public Hearing will be held to receive public comment on the Plan at a City Council Meeting scheduled for September 9, 2008. We anticipate submitting the Plan to the Washington State Department of Health in November 2008, and final adoption of the Plan by City Council by May 2009.
Water Meter Installation Information:
New Washington State Department of Health regulations require the City to have meters on all of its water sources and service connections, and to report to our customers the date we became fully metered. All service connections into the City's water system have been metered since at least 1976. Each of our water supply sources (McAllister Springs and six wells) have been metered since they were installed.
Need More Information?
Contact the Public Works office.
- Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
- Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
- Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Phone: (360) 753-8588
- Email: publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us