Page 281 - Water Loss Control

250 Cha pte r F i f tee n

For control of unauthorized consumption on a long-term basis, the water utility
should employ effective policies and enforcement capabilities. This may require changes
in existing regulations, statutes, or codes and the creation of new ones. Implementing
such change in these instruments can be politically
sensitive and requires skilled effort over potentially
long periods of time to implement, however, a
Recognizing that a portion
strong legal framework will ultimately allow the
of customers in any region live water utility to operate with enforcement powers to
with real economic hardship, keep unauthorized consumption to an economic
the water utility may choose minimum.
to operate programs offering Recognizing that a portion of customers in any
appropriate discounts, grants, region live with real economic hardship, the water
or similar services to qualified utility may choose to operate programs offering
appropriate discounts, grants, or similar services to
customers in order to keep
qualified customers in order to keep essential water
essential water service afford-
service affordable. Having such a program working
able. Having such a program
in tandem with aggressive unauthorized consump-
working in tandem with aggres-
tion enforcement is the best policy. It is never justi-
sive unauthorized consumption fied for a customer to take water service in an
enforcement is the best policy. unauthorized manner based upon their purely sub-
jective statement as to economic hardship. How-
ever, it is appropriate that water utilities recognize the limitations of certain customers
in justifiable need and offer them an avenue to legitimately purchase water service at
affordable rates.

15.3.1 Successfully Managing Fire Hydrants
Many water utilities lose an appreciable amount of water from fire hydrants that are
opened without authorization or knowledge of the water utility. This activity not only
results in an apparent loss but also frequently results in damage to fire hydrants from
improper operation. In addition to loss concerns, fire hydrants are viewed more seriously
as a security issue in the post 9/11 world. Hydrants could potentially be used as an entry
point to intentionally inject contaminants into the drinking water supply, therefore, hav-
ing strong oversight of fire hydrants is now viewed as more critical as in the past.
The primary purposes of fire hydrants are fire fighting and water distribution sys-
tem testing and maintenance, including flushing water mains. In many water utilities,
however, the use of fire hydrants—for both authorized and unauthorized purposes—
goes far beyond these basic functions. Unauthorized consumption from fire hydrants,
which is classified under apparent losses, occurs when water is drawn illegally from
hydrants to fill tank trucks for landscaping or construction purposes, to wash cars, or to
use recreationally for personal cooling in hot weather, such as shown in Fig. 15.1. Many
water utilities have policies that permit water to be drawn from fire hydrants for a vari-
ety of community-spirited purposes. This water typically falls under unmetered,
unbilled authorized consumption in the water audit and includes water used in street
cleaning, filling public swimming pools, providing transient supplies (such as nonpo-
table supply to a traveling circus), community gardens, and constructions sites. Some
allow hot weather cooling relief from fire hydrants via the use of spray caps. These
varied uses of fire hydrants pose potential problems for water utilities and customers,
including