AWWA DSS54628

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) was established by the Florida Legislature in 1960. Though initially created to manage flooding problems, the SWFWMD's role has been expanded to a more comprehensive water management responsibility, which includes water supply, water quality, and natural systems management. The mission of the SWFWMD is to preserve and protect the water resource for current and future generations. One of its responsibilities is to issue water use permits to various water users who are required to report monthly withdrawals. The District uses this data to determine the relationship of rainfall and water withdrawals on aquifer levels. Accurate water accounting is critical to efficient operation. In highly water stressed areas which the District defines as Water Use Caution Areas, permit holders are required to attain a level of unaccounted-for water (UAW) not to exceed 12%. Periodic water audits are mandatory for utilities located in Water Use Caution Areas. Those utilities exceeding 12% UAW must provide the District with a schedule of remedial action, which may include leak detection, meter testing, or meter change-out. In order to assist public supply utilities in reducing UAW, the SWFWMD instituted an Urban Mobile Lab program, which provides water audit assistance, including meter testing and leak detection sevices. As a result, many utilities have initiated their own leak detection programs. This paper discusses a water audit program, meter accuracy and testing, leak detection, and water conservation.