Water Efficiency and Water Loss Audits

Water Stewardship Act Requirements

The  Water Stewardship Act of 2010  applies to public water systems serving over 3,300 in population.  The requirements outlined in the Act apply for water withdrawal permit renewals and modifications to increase permitted water withdrawal limits.  Approximately 250 water providers are subject to the Act’s water loss control requirements.  Requirements include:

• Completion of an Annual Water Loss Audit (due by March 1 of each calendar year to EPD)
• Development and implementation of a Water Loss Control Program (as of July 2016)
• Development of individual goals to set measures of water supply efficiency
• Demonstration of progress toward improving water supply efficiency

Audit Results

• 2021 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2020 Water Loss Audit Results  
• 2019 Water Loss Audit Results 
• 2018 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2017 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2016 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2015 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2014 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2013 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2012 Water Loss Audit Results
• 2011 Water Loss Audit Results

Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) Certification

All water loss audits must be reviewed and certified by an individual who has received the Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) Certification.  In order to become certified, the QWLA must successfully demonstrate the knowledge, skills and ability to validate water loss audits in accordance with the Georgia Water System Audits and Water Loss Control Manual. 

• QWLA Certificate (Updated January 2023):   This certification must be signed by both the public water system and the QWLA and submitted with the annual water audit.
• Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) Registry List - Public List

Water Loss Control Resources

AWWA’s Free Water Audit Software: The American Water Works Association (AWWA) advocates the water audit method developed jointly by the International Water Association and AWWA, which is available on their website here. 

GA Water System Audit and Water Loss Control Manual :  This document serves as a guidance manual to assist water providers with meeting the statutory requirements outlined in the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010.  The manual describes the current best practices necessary to complete a water system audit and implement a water loss control program in accordance with the Act.

Water Resources Foundation (WRF) 5057 Manual:  This document serves as a guidance manual for water loss audit validators.  Water audit validation is the process of examining water audit inputs to improve the water audit’s accuracy and document the uncertainty associated with water audit data. This project developed guidance on Level 1 water audit validation using version 6 of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Free Water Audit Software. It highlights the factors that influence water audit data quality and the key points to consider when assessing whether the correct methodology was used to derive audit input values

• Presentation:  Demonstrating Progress Toward Improving Water Supply Efficiency
• Guidance:  Demonstrating Progress Toward Improving Water Supply Efficiency
• Guidance:  Water Loss Control Program Template 

Presentations

• Presentation:  Water Supply Efficiency Improvement:  The EPD Approach
• Presentation:  AWWA Water Loss Audit Software v6.0 Pilot Program Results

These documents serve to assist water providers with demonstrating progress toward improving water supply efficiency, a requirement of the Water Stewardship Act for permitting actions as described in the previous section.  EPD will evaluate “progress” according to the process outlined in these documents.

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals provides annual training opportunities for Basic Water Loss and QWLA Certification, as well as Advanced Water Loss Control.  Visit GAWP’s website (https://www.gawp.org/events/event_list.asp) for more information.

Questions?