Water losses cost $

The City of Blue Ridge’s 2019 water audit report by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) shows a 45.8% loss of water supply.

Customers are likely paying for these losses as a result.

City officials previously confirmed that water rates have to cover operating expenses for their water system.

The city provided customers with 178.293 million gallons of water of the 320.275 million gallons treated, according to the system’s 2019 audit.

Additionally, the audit shows a real loss of 138.648 million gallons, totaling $1,157,712.

The city’s 2020 finished water report shows a loss of 49.6% in January, 52.9% in February, 44.1% in March, 49.2% in April and 61.4% in May.

The annual cost of operating the water system was $2,854,631 in 2019.

For 2018, the audit report shows a 54% loss of water supply and 50% for 2017.

This translates to losses of $74,017 and $69,252, respectively.

The Georgia Water System Audits and Water Loss Control Manual produced by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources states, “Water system inefficiencies increase the cost of service to customers and may lead to increased raw water demands that negatively impact the natural environment.”

As a result, water systems that serve a population of at least 3,300 must conduct an annual water system audit as well as create and implement a water loss control program per the Department of Natural Resources.

The city does have a water loss control plan that includes a variety of ways to prevent water losses.

EPD noted on the audit report that the city has tracked real losses to bad service lines between the meter and the main.