SAN ANTONIO – Billions of gallons of water are leaking into the ground in San Antonio. It's not just happening in the Alamo City, but in every water system across America.
A system's success is determined by how much water is leaking, how quickly it's taken care of and how much it's costing taxpayers. One group of water professionals is compiling all that data and comparing cities across the nation.
It's the water main breaks spewing 40 feet into the air that you see on the news. However, water is constantly leaking from system pipes under the surface.
The question is, how much is lost?
Texas is one of only a few states monitoring that with an auditing system. An online organization of industry professionals called FluksAqua compiled all the data.
FluksAqua President Dr. Hubert Colas said aging infrastructure is the main reason water seeps from pipes into the ground.
"Infrastructure is the main part. Second of all, is measuring where's your problem, how's your problem, are you measuring fast so you can detect fast, so you can correct the problem as soon as you get some leaks?" he said.
San Antonio currently loses about 10.5 billion gallons of water each year. That's roughly the size of 15,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The research shows that the annual loss is about $35 million each year. To each San Antonio taxpayer, that's $54 per year.
It all sounds like a lot, but Colas said San Antonio is doing pretty well, considering it's also supplying 77 billion gallons of water to residents.
"We're giving them a 4 stars out of 5 stars, which is relatively good, so they're in the top 10 percent of the water users. It's quite a good situation to be (in)," he said.
Colas' research shows San Antonio is losing about 10 percent of the water in the system, which he says is a better rate than most.
"At a 10 percent leakage rate, that's a very good one, there can never can be a totally tight system, because there's a point where it's not economically feasible to really go after the last drop. If you're really bad, like there are some numbers in Texas where you have 40 percent losses, well there it probably indicates that there's no leak detection program in place," he said.
Colas said systems like San Antonio Water System, that invest in the future, are doing well.
"You have to plan for the next 50 to 100 years. You need to take this into consideration as soon as possible, so that you maintain a level investment in your system that's maintaining your service through a long time," Colas said. "If you wait too long, then the cost is going to be even higher."
SAWS talked about maintaining that level of investment in a statement about water loss research:
"San Antonio Water System has a twenty-year history of reducing water loss as part of our conservation and water resource programs. Along with our award winning Conservation programs, a large component of the water business includes replacing pipe and meters, and of course the repairing of leaks as they develop."
SAWS has increased investments in water-loss prevention through three recent initiatives:
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Collaborated with the Edwards Aquifer Authority, using EAA funding to increase our proactive leak detection and repair.
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Hired an external professional water loss company based in the US to assist with the audit of the system to better understand cost-effective ways to improve.
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Employed internal/external loss reduction staff to examine water loss results year-round.
To compare San Antonio to other big cities around Texas: Houston is losing 17.2 billion gallons per year, but costing taxpayers $46. Dallas is losing 10.3 billion gallons, costing taxpayers only $26.
The good news for the state of Texas is that this information is being regularly requested and studied to plan for the future. That audit is done by the American Water Works Association and is available here: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/conservation/municipal/waterloss/
"When you know the size of your problem, you can put the resources where you most need them, and that's very important. Some are doing great jobs, so just let them continue. And for those who are having problems, you can put your efforts into those to provide the same service statewide," Colas said.
To look at the water loss statistics for other cities around Texas, click here.