LWS eAR Help Tips

INTRODUCTION
  1. General Office Phone: Enter the phone number for the main office. This phone number will be posted on the Drinking Water Watch for the general public. It can be accessed at: https://sdwis.waterboards.ca.gov/PDWW

  2. Certification for Reduction of Annual Fees for Public Water Systems Serving Disadvantaged Community (DAC ):

    §64310. Reduction of Fees for Public Water Systems Serving Disadvantaged Community.

    (a) A public water system must pay the full amount of the annual fee unless it requests and receives from the State Board a determination that its annual fees are reduced because it is a community water system that serves a disadvantaged community in which case the fee to be paid is the amount for a disadvantaged community as shown in Table 64305-A.

    (b) To qualify for the reduction provided for in subsection (a), a public water system must certify, and provide documentation to the State Board upon request, that it serves a disadvantaged community.

  3. Report Submitted By: The information included in this section is automatically filled based on the eAR user’s profile. If the information in this section is incorrect, the user must update their user profile on the MY PROFILE tab before the report is submitted. You must be logged in to change your user profile. Note: Your name and title, email address, and work phone number are disclosable report information that may be obtained through the Public Records Act.

  4. Comments: Comment boxes are provided throughout the eAR to allow the user to provide discussion or clarification on their responses provided in that section of the report. These comment boxes can accommodate up to 4000 characters. "Private Comments” will not be published. Other comments will be available to the public.

    SECTION 1. PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM CONTACTS.

  5. Public Water System Contacts: This section of the report will be pre-filled with current water system contact information in the Division of Drinking Water database (Safe Drinking Water Information System or SDWIS). Overtype the contact information to provide any necessary updates. The option to add up to four (4) new contacts is provided at the end of this section.

  6. Phone Type Definitions.

    PHONE TYPE DEFINITIONS
    Business (For Administrative Contact only) The BUSINESS phone type (mandatory) is treated as a public phone number and will appear in Drinking Water Watch (https://sdwis.waterboards.ca.gov/PDWW), which can be viewed by the public, if the General Office phone number is not provided. If you use your home or mobile phone number as your business number, it will be made public in DWW if there is no General Office phone.
    Home (For Administrative Contact only) The HOME phone type is treated as a private phone number, with the exception noted under Business Phone Type.

  7. Contact Type Definitions.

    NOTE: A person may be assigned multiple contact types. For example, the owner may also be both the Administrative Contact and Financial Contact.
    CONTACT TYPE DEFINITIONS
    Administrative Contact (AC) The person who is legally responsible for ensuring that the Public Water System maintains compliance with SDWA requirements. The person to whom Division of Drinking Water mass mailings, enforcement letters and correspondences would be addressed, such as the Board of Directors, General Manager or CEO. Each water system must have one and only one AC.

    Please provide an email address for the Administrative Contact as most email communication, particularly email blasts, from the Division of Drinking Water will be sent to the email address of the Administrative Contact.
    Financial Contact (FC) The person who receives Division of Drinking Water invoices and issues payments. Each water system must have one and only one FC.
    Owner The person or entity named in the water supply permit. If not the same as the Administrative Contact, this would then be the legal owner or entity that is legally responsible for the Public Water System.
    Designated Operator in Charge Chief Operators. This person could also be the Administrative Contact, Owner, or Contract Operator. Must be a certified operator for community and nontransient noncommunity water systems.
    Operator Contact Shift Operators. Must be a certified operator for community and nontransient noncommunity water systems.
    Emergency Contact The person who assists with coordinating emergency activities (e.g. collecting samples, conducting public notification, corresponding with the Division of Drinking Water.)
    Water Quality Contact The person who receives water quality email updates from the Division of Drinking Water. The person responsible for coordinating or conducting water quality monitoring and/or sample collection. Email address required for electronic mailing.
    Legal Contact Public water system’s attorney or legal counsel.
    CONTRACT Operator Contact The person or company with whom the water system has a contract to operate or assist in the operation of the water system.
    Funding Contact The person who receives funding (State Revolving Fund) email updates from the Division. This person is the representative of the water system for projects receiving Safe Drinking Water Act funds.

  8. Add Additional Contact. Up to four additional contacts may be added.

    SECTION 2. POPULATION SERVED.

  9. Provide Season: Provide the dates (month and day) that cover the increase in seasonal population. For example, if it is only during the summer, the Begin Date could be 06/01 and the End Date could be 09/30. Month must be between 1 and 12. Day must two digits between 1 and 31.

    SECTION 3. CONNECTIONS.

  10. Number of NON-residential customers required to have dedicated outdooring irrigation meters. A dedicated outdoor irrigation meter only measures outdoor water and does not meter any water used indoors. The response should exclude agricultural connections. For example, some irrigation connections may also include buildings on the irrigated property, such as a crematorium in a cemetery, and those buildings may be lumped into the irrigation connection. If the cemetery has a dedicated irrigation meter to separate the graveyard use from the crematorium use, and those meter readings are tracked by the Public Water System, then the customer would be counted here.

    SECTION 4. GROUNDWATER (GW) AND SURFACE WATER (SW) SOURCES.

  11. Active Groundwater Intakes (Wells) - Applies only to groundwater wells owned by the water system. Purchased groundwater supplies should be counted under Active Purchased Water (GW) Connections.

  12. Active Surface Water Intakes (Raw) – raw (untreated) surface water intakes. Applies only to intake structures owned by the water system itself such as intakes in lakes, rivers, etc. Purchased untreated surface water obtained via a pipeline is not considered an intake, but should be counted as an Active Purchased Water (SW) Connections.

  13. Active Purchased Water (GW) Connections – includes both raw and treated purchased groundwater connections.

  14. Active Purchased Water (SW) Connections – includes both raw and treated purchased surface water connections.

  15. STANDBY SOURCES: An emergency source that is not approved to be used for more than 15 calendar days per year or for periods that exceed 5 consecutive days. The local DDW District Office must be notified within 3 days after any use of a standby source.

    SECTION 6. WATER RATES AND DELIVERIES.

  16. A. WATER RATES

    This section uses the numbering found in the report form. The tips just below apply throughout section 6A.

    • Numbers: Only enter the dollars and cents as a number without any commas or dollar signs, e.g., “1000” means one thousand dollars (no comma) and “50.68” means fifty dollars and 68 cents. If question is “non-applicable” and a number is required, enter the number zero for “non-applicable”.

    • Dates: Enter dates using the format MM/DD/YYYY, e.g., 03/01/2018. If a date is “non-applicable,” enter 01/01/1000. If you enter all zeros, you will receive an error message.

    • When more than one response is applicable: If more than one answers is applicable, select the response that most commonly applies in your service area. For example, if there is more than one residential single-family residential rate structure, describe the rate structure that applies to the greatest number of residential accounts.

    A1 Residential Water Rates

    Provide information for single-family water rates only, if the rate structure differs between single-family and multi-family. If more than one rate structure exists for single-family customers, provide responses for the most common rate structure.

    Select your base rate, if applicable. Select your usage rate, if applicable. Or select an item under “other rates”. You may mark more than one item on the list in your answer.

    Base Rate – (Non-Volumetric Rates)

    • Fixed Base Rate - Fixed charge means that the rate is the same for all customers regardless of water use or consumption and there is a water meter. If unmetered, select “flat rate” (see below).

    • Variable Base Rate - Basic charge is different depending on size of pipe, water meter, elevation, peak use, or other factors.

    Usage Rate (Volumetric Rates)

    Usage rates are volumetric. This means that a customer pays more as he or she consumes more water. Below are two types of usage rates.

    • Uniform Usage Rate - The charge per 100 cubic feet of water is the same regardless of use.

    • Variable Usage Rate - Increasing Block or Tier Rate. The charge per 100 cubic feet or another increment of water pricing increases as water use increases.

    Other Rates

    • Flat Rate - One rate for providing drinking water regardless of the volume of water used, not combined with a usage rate. Typically used when there are no meters. If you have a Flat Rate, please skip questions A1.b, A1.d, A1.f, A1.g and A3. Enter your flat rate in question A4.

    • Allocation Based- "Allocation-based conservation water pricing" means a retail water rate structure that meets all of the criteria in Water Code Section 372 as follows (see California Water Code sections 370-374):

      372.(a) A public entity may employ allocation-based conservation water pricing that meets all of the following criteria:
      (1) Billing is based on metered water use.
      (2) A basic use allocation is established for each customer account that provides a reasonable amount of water for the customer’s needs and property characteristics. Factors used to determine the basic use allocation may include, but are not limited to, the number of occupants, the type or classification of use, the size of lot or irrigated area, and the local climate data for the billing period. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a customer of the public entity from challenging whether the basic use allocation established for that customer’s account is reasonable under the circumstances. Nothing in this chapter is intended to permit public entities to limit the use of property through the establishment of a basic use allocation.
      (3) A basic charge is imposed for all water used within the customer’s basic use allocation, except that at the option of the public entity, a lower rate may be applied to any portion of the basic use allocation that the public entity has determined to represent superior or more than reasonable conservation efforts.
      (4) A conservation charge shall be imposed on all increments of water use in excess of the basic use allocation. The increments may be fixed or may be determined on a percentage or any other basis, without limitation on the number of increments, or any requirement that the increments or conservation charges be sized, or ascend uniformly, or in a specified relationship. The volumetric prices for the lowest through the highest priced increments shall be established in an ascending relationship that is economically structured to encourage conservation and reduce the inefficient use of water, consistent with Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution.
      (b) (1) Except as specified in subdivision (a), the design of an allocation-based conservation pricing rate structure shall be determined in the discretion of the public entity.
      (2) The public entity may impose meter charges or other fixed charges to recover fixed costs of water service in addition to the allocation-based conservation pricing rate structure.
      (c) A public entity may use one or more allocation-based conservation water pricing structures for any class of municipal or other service that the public entity provides.
      (Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 610, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)

    • Other rate structure (specify your rate structure in the comment box, provide a weblink where indicated below)

    • We do not charge a water rate (explain in next question).

    A1.d Number of levels in rate structure: Select the number of levels in the rate structure for the most common single-family rate structure, for the most common meter-size. If there is only a flat rate, select “not-tiered” to indicate that there is only one rate and there are no other rate levels. If the rate structure varies by a non-volumetric factor such as lot size, count those levels and explain the features (next question) and include a web link (see below).
    A1.e Features: Identify aspects or factors used to determine or adjust residential water rates besides water use, as applicable, you may mark more than one. Choices include: agricultural use (non-commercial or commercial), elevation, evaporative coolers, fire protection - water to irrigate vegetation, home-based business, livestock or large animals, lot size, medical needs, meter size, mitigation of high levels of total dissolved solids, occupancy (all-year), occupancy (seasonal), pressure zone, soil compaction and dust control, supplement ponds and lakes to sustain wildlife, other (explain in space provided) or none of the above.
    A1.f Units of Measure (UOM) for Table on Residential Water Rates: The choices are volumetric, i.e., Gallons (Gal), Hundred Cubic Feet (HCF), Thousand Gallons (1,000 Gal), Million Gallons, Acre Feet (AF). If a unit of measure is non-volumetric select “non-applicable”. Describe the rate in the comment box on Residential Rate Structure (see question A1.k)
    A1.g Table on Residential Water Rates: The table has a row for information on non-volumetric base rates followed by multiple rows for volumetric usage rates. See Examples for guidance on how to complete this section

    Single-family Residential: Single-family detached dwellings

    Multi-family Residential: Apartments, condominiums, town houses, duplexes and mobile homes. If there are multiple rate structures for multi-family housing, provide data for the most common type of multi-family housing and explain this in the comment box for this section. For example, if multi-family rates vary by the number of apartments or family-units, enter data for the most common type of multi-family structure and explain this in the comments, (e.g., “Rates are for X-family units, our most common type of multi-family structure”). Also, you may provide a link to your webpage that explains rates, if available.

    Base Rate (non-volumetric): A base rate, or fixed rate, as used in this table, means all water users pay a certain amount. A base rate may be fixed (same rate applies to all customers) or variable (changes with some feature such as meter size or elevation). A base rate may also be associated with a volume of water, e.g., water use up to 6 hundred cubic feet is included in the base rate. If this occurs, then identify the amount of water included in the base rate using the units of measure (UOM) selected. If there is a variable base rate, provide information on the most common variable base rate and in the box “Comments on Rate Structure” explain the aspects of the most common rate. If your water system uses a flat rate, i.e., one rate for providing drinking water regardless of the volume of water used, skip this table and enter your rate information in A4. (See Examples for assistance in completing this section.)

    Usage Rate (volumetric) Structures Level 1 – Level 7:
    • If your water system charges different rates that vary with the volume of water consumed. Enter the rate data starting with the lowest volume of water use in the row for “Rate Structure Level 1”.
    • If your water system uses an allocation rate structure, add a direct weblink to more information on your rate structure (Question 6A.1j) and provide information in the box “Comments on Rate Structure” (Question A1.k), and leave this table blank.
    A1.h Date of most recent update to the rate structure. If non-applicable enter 01/01/1000.
    A1.j Web link to water rates: Provide a hyperlink to a webpage with information that explains your water rates, e.g., to explain allocation rates. Only include the hyperlink, not extra text. If you need to provide more explanation, do so in the comment box that follows this question (Question 6A.1k).
    A1.k Comments on Residential Rate Structure: If your water system uses an allocation rate structure, provide information in the comment box on Residential Rate Structure (see 6A.1k on the annual report form) and include a weblink (see 6A.1j on the annual report form).
    A2 Residential service connections
    A2.c Single-family service connection fee for brand-new construction refers to a hookup for a brand-new home (new construction). These are sometimes called “impact” or “capital” fees and may be paid by developers
    A2.d Date: If a date is “non-applicable” enter 01/01/1000
    A2.e Single-family service connection fee for an existing single-family home refers to a one-time fee to open a new account for an existing home that has a new account holder.
    A2.f Multi-family service connection fee for new construction refers to a connection fee for a newly constructed apartment building or similar structure.
    A3 Non-Residential Water Rates
    A3.b Table on Non-residential Water Rates

    Commercial: Retail establishments, office buildings, laundries, camp grounds, gas stations

    Institutional: Schools, prisons, hospitals, dormitories, nursing homes, hotels

    Industrial: All manufacturing

    Landscape Irrigation: Parks, play fields, cemeteries, median strips, golf courses

    Agricultural Irrigation: Irrigation of commercially-grown crops

    Other: Fire suppression, street cleaning, line flushing, construction meters, temporary meters

    Base Rate: base rates may be fixed or variable. If a base rate is variable, provide information for the most common situation and explain the variable base rate in the comment box.

    HCF (or CCF): 100 cubic feet. There are 748 gallons in 100 cubic feet.
    A4 Affordable Drinking Water

    The questions in this section call for monthly billing information. For example, if bills cover 2 months, then divide the cost per billing by 2 to find the monthly amount to enter.

    HCF (or CCF): means 100 cubic feet. There are 748 gallons in 100 cubic feet.
    Gallons Thousand Gallons Million Gallons Acre Feet
    6 HCF equals 4,488 4.5 0.0045 0.014
    12 HCF equals 8,976 9 0.009 0.028
    24 HCF equals 17,952 18 0.018 0.055

    “Other charges” refers to non-drinking water charges that are added to water bills. “Other charges” vary locally and may include property taxes, city tax, utility users tax, services for fire suppression, waste water or sewer, stormwater, other non-drinking water surcharges, infrastructure fee, watershed management fee, etc. If “other charges” vary by certain features (e.g., by climate, lot size, landscaped area) use the lowest charge in your calculation.
    A5 Shut-Offs:

    Community Water Systems that have water rates and more than 200 connections must complete this section. If your community water system does not meet these criteria for completing this Section, then you must mark the boxes “did not collect information” in this section to avoid completion errors when you finalize your report.

    This section pertains to residential service connections that experienced 1 or more drinking water shut-offs due to failure to pay in the year 2018 (January 1 to December 31). Exclude accounts for residential units that were vacant, if known. If no information was collected, write in the text box, “Did not collect residential shutoff information”

    Throughout this section the following applies:

    • Unknown occupancy: If a water supplier tracks the number of services connections but did not collect information on whether residences were occupied or unoccupied at the time of disconnection, put the total number of disconnections in the “unknown accounts” column in the tables.
    • Unknown if single- or multi-family accounts: If a water supplier does not differentiate between single-family or multi-family, then enter all information as single-family.
    A5.c
    A5.d    		 Residential reconnection fee: Reconnection fee to restore drinking water service to existing customers who had their service stopped due to failure to make payments. If there was a change during 2018, please give the fee that was in effect for the greater portion of the year. 6A.5c and 6A.5d ask what the fee is during operating hours (normal business hours) or non-operating hours (after-business hours, e.g., evenings, weekends, holidays), respectively.
    A5.e Median duration of shut-offs: Include multiple shut-offs for the same account as independent shut-offs in the calculation of the median duration (count each shut-off incident as a separate event). If the account was shut off during 2016 and not reconnected until 2018, count the duration of the shutoff from the first day of disconnection until the day it was reconnected in 2018. If the account was shut off and remains shut off until now, tally the number of days from the 1st day of disconnection to December 31, 2018. If this information is not collected, fill out the text box for question 5 and write in “Did not collect”.
    A5.h Written policy on discontinuation of residential service: The purpose of this question is to determine how many suppliers will need to adopt or modify policies ahead of the statutory compliance dates of February 1, 2020 (investor-owned utilities) and April 1, 2020 (all others).
    A6 Affordable Drinking Water Assistance
    A6.d This question only applies if a supplier indicates in A6.a that it provides options for affordable drinking water assistance. A benefit may be a set amount or based off some other factor: Dollar amount, e.g., $10.00 a month; Percentage of monthly bill, e.g., 50% of the monthly bill; or a Volume amount, e.g., 7 CCF a month; or other. Your explanation may include a range if that is more appropriate.
    A6.g Alternative payment refers to a payment method that makes it easier for a customer to pay a bill. Examples of alternative payments include allowing later payment without penalty, leveling out payments so they are even month to month over the year, establishing pre-payment plans.
    SECTION 7. WATER QUALITY.

  17. NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certification of Direct Additives: Pursuant to Section 64700, Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, (effective January 1, 2018), all chemicals or products, including chlorine, added directly to the drinking water as part of a treatment process must meet the ANSI/NSF Standard 60. If you are not sure whether a chemical you are using meets this standard, contact the manufacturer or distributor of the chemical.

  18. Chemical Use Initiated in 2018: Indicate if you began using the chemical listed in 2018. Specify in the COMMENTS whether this is an additional chemical used in the treatment process or whether this chemical replaced one you are no longer using.

    SECTION 8. CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL (Backflow).

  19. Cross Connection Control: Pursuant to Title 17, California Code of Regulations, all public water systems shall protect the water supply from contamination by backflow caused by cross-connections. For premises where cross-connections are likely to occur, prevention of backflow is required through the installation of approved backflow prevention assemblies. Each backflow prevention assembly must be tested annually by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester.

  20. Backflow Prevention Assemblies: include double check valve assemblies (Fig. 1) and reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assemblies (Fig, 2) that operate to prevent water from flowing from a user’s piping back into the domestic water supply system. Each backflow prevention assembly must be tested annually by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester.
    Fig. 1 - a double check valve assembly Fig. 2 - a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly

  21. Backflow Assemblies On-site: this includes backflow assemblies installed within the premises of the user, which protect the internal water distribution system from cross-connections to the satisfaction of the water supplier and health agency, such that backflow protection is not required at the user’s connection to the public water system. This also includes backflow assemblies installed within a non-community water system to protect its distribution system. Examples include backflow assemblies on the water supply to boilers, RV dump stations, commercial dishwashers, fire protection systems, etc.

  22. Air-Gap Separation: is a physical break between the water supply line and a receiving vessel, and must provide a separation of at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically from the flood rim of the receiving vessel to the supply pipe, but in no case shall this separation be less than one inch.

  23. Inactive Backflow Prevention Assemblies: A backflow prevention assembly that is installed on a pipeline or connection that is no longer in use, as counted at the end of the calendar year 2017.

  24. Cross-Connection: is an unprotected actual or potential connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome and potable. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.

    SECTION 9. OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.

  25. Chief Operator: The person who has overall responsibility for the day-to-day, hands-on, operation of a water treatment facility or the person who has overall responsibility for the day-to-day, hands-on, operation of a distribution system.

  26. Your Highest Treatment System Classification.

    This shows the classification of your treatment facility with the highest classification (T1, T2, T3, T4, or T5). However, you may see the following instead:

    • Treatment or Distribution Operator – your treatment facility or facilities may be operated by either a certified treatment or distribution operator
    • Classification is Unavailable – the classification of your treatment facility or facilities has not been entered into the Division’s SDWIS database
    • No facilities subject to the Certified Treatment Plant Operator requirements – either you do not have any treatment facilities or these treatment facilities are not subject to the certified treatment plant operator requirements.

      If you believe that your highest treatment facility classification is in error, please notify your local regulatory agency immediately.

  27. Your Distribution System Classification.

    This shows the classification of your distribution system (D1, D2, D3, D4, or D5). However, you may see the following instead:

    • Distribution Operator Not Required – your water system is a transient non-community water system and as such is not subject to the certified distribution system operator requirements
    • Classification is Unavailable – the classification of your distribution system has not been entered into the Division’s SDWIS database

      If you believe that your highest treatment facility classification is in error, please notify your local regulatory agency immediately.

  28. Tips to Complete the Operator Certification Tables

    • If you do not have any certified operators to report, put “NONE” in each column of the first row.

      Name Grade of
      Operator      		 Chief or Shift1 (C, S or X) Operator
      Number      		 Expiration Date
      NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE
      - - - - -


    • Use the following format and rules to complete the State certified Water Treatment Plant Operators table:

      Treatment Operator Name Grade of
      Treatment Operator      		 Chief or Shift Treatment Operator
      Number      		 Treatment Certification Expiration Date
      First name Last name 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 only. C, S or X only (lowercase ok); do not leave blank. 4 or 5 digits MM/DD/YYYY
      - - - - -
      1Use “C” for Chief Operator and “S” for Shift Operator. If neither, put an "X". Do not leave blank.

    • Use the following format and rules to complete the State certified Water Distribution System Operators table:

      Distribution Operator Name Grade of Distribution
      Operator      		 Chief or Shift1 Distribution Operator
      Number      		 Distribution Certificate Expiration Date
      First name Last name 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 only. C, S or X only (lowercase ok); do not leave blank. 4 or 5 digits MM/DD/YYYY
      - - - - -
      1Use “C” for Chief Operator and “S” for Shift Operator. If neither, put an "X". Do not leave blank.

    SECTION 12. RECYCLED WATER USE.

  29. Recycled Water Use site: An area of recycled water use with defined boundaries. A use site may contain one or more facilities.

  30. Dual Plumbed: means a system that utilizes separate piping systems for recycled water and potable water within a facility and where the recycled water is used for either of the following purposes:

    1. To serve plumbing outlets (excluding fire suppression systems) within a building, or

    2. Outdoor landscape irrigation at individual residences.

    SECTION 13. SYSTEM OPERATION – TREATMENT.

  31. Watershed Sanitary Survey Report: required under the Surface Water Treatment Rule, Section 64665, as follows:

    1. All suppliers shall have a sanitary survey of their watershed(s) completed at least every five years. The first survey shall be completed by January 1, 1996.

    2. A report of the survey shall be submitted to the Department not later than 60 days following completion of the survey.

    3. The survey and report shall include physical and hydrogeological description of the watershed, a summary of source water quality monitoring data, a description of activities and sources of contamination, a description of any significant changes that have occurred since the last survey which could affect the quality of the source water, a description of watershed control and management practices, an evaluation of the system's ability to meet requirements of this chapter, and recommendations for corrective actions.

    SECTION 14. SYSTEM OPERATION – DISTRIBUTION.

  32. Date of last inspection: Last official, exhaustive tank inspection of both interior and exterior.

  33. Water Outages: Unplanned events in which the water system is depressurized and customers are out of water for any reason including water main breaks. Scheduled water outages during main replacement need not be reported. A system may be depressurized due to a well or pump failure or wildfire damage to a reservoir resulting in the reservoir being emptied.

  34. SB-555 Urban retail water suppliers: water loss management (2015-2016)

    Information in this section will be used to help develop water loss performance standards for urban retail water suppliers, as required by SB 555 (2015-16). This section uses the numbering found in the report form.

    • E. Infrastructure and Pressure Information in this section will be used to help develop water loss performance standards for urban retail water suppliers, as required by SB 555 (2015-16). Only Community Water Systems with more than 3,000 service connections or supply more than 3,300 acre feet/year need to complete these sections:

      • 1. Pipeline composition table:

        In the first column, enter the estimate for the length of pipe composed of the listed material as a percentage of the total length of pipe in the distribution system. For example, if the estimate is ‘X%’, enter ‘X’ in the blank.

        In the second column, enter the average age in years for the corresponding listed material. If information is available, calculate the average using the following method:

        Assuming that the total pipeline length for your distribution system is ‘L’, if your system has pipeline length ‘L1’ of age ‘A1’; length ‘L2’ of age ‘A2’ and so on, the average age for that material will be:
        Formula
        If your system has pipe material that is not specified in the form, please use the blank provided below the columns to specify the material and use the last rows to enter the percent composition and age values, as shown in the image below.
        example
        • Enter the material and composition not listed in the table in the blanks in the last row
        • If information is not available for all material, please enter known estimates for the materials that form the majority of your distribution system and enter zeroes for the remaining blanks. If there is no information available on composition, enter zeroes for all blanks.


      • 2. Nominal Diameter of Pipes: Nominal diameter of a distribution pipe is the internal diameter of the pipe.

      • 3. Pressure management is a technique that optimizes pressures in a water distribution system to minimize losses and surge impacts while maintaining adequate water service, including fire-fighting flows.
        • Pressure zones are sectors in a distribution system that are established to comply with pressure requirements throughout the distribution system efficiently.
        • Critical pressure points are locations with lowest pressure in a pressure zone of the water distribution system, due to topography and/or hydraulic frictional losses in the system.


    • F. Real Loss Reduction Measures Information in this section will be used to help develop water loss performance standards for urban retail water suppliers, as required by SB 555(2015-16). Only retail community water systems with more than 3,000 end users or that supply more than 3,000 acre-feet/year need to complete these new sections.

      • 1. Real losses: include leakage from mains and service connections and storage tank overflows. It is defined as the physical water loss from the pressurized system and the utility’s storage tanks, up to the point of customer consumption, which is the customer meter in those utilities that meter their customers. In unmetered systems, the delineation is the point at which the customer is responsible for customer service connection piping maintenance and repairs.

      • 2. Component analysis is a spreadsheet tool that disaggregates the total volume of real losses into three components: Reported leakage (visible and reported by public or staff to utility), Unreported leakage (Often not visible and requires equipment for detection) and Background leakage (small leaks not detected by traditional equipment).
        Available at Leakage Component Analysis Model (2014)
        Real Loss Component Analysis: A Tool for Economic Water Loss Control, 2014

      • 3. (a) Interventions to detect water losses include:

        Listening rods are metallic rods with an earpiece at one end, used to listen to leak sounds from pipes with the other end placed on the exposed pipe, hydrant or valve.

        Ground microphones are a mechanical listening device which are placed on the ground to detect leaks acoustically.

        Hydrophones are listening rods or ground microphones with amplifiers.

        Leak noise correlators detect the leak sound from the water main or pipe through a receiver unit and two sensors equipped with a radio transmitter and provide information on the location of the leak. This equipment is placed on valves or hydrants on each side of the suspected leak.

        Leak noise loggers indicate the presence of a leak without providing a location. These sensors are permanently or temporarily installed at fittings in the distribution system and programmed to monitor noise indicating leakage at night. The data can be collected by radio transmission.

        Inline devices are introduced into the pipe, which then detect and provide information on leaks by imaging or detecting changes in noise or pressure.

        Tracer gas (not soluble in water, such as hydrogen or helium) is introduced into an isolated segment of a water pipe and used to detect a leak through which the gas escapes and permeates to the surface of the pipe.

        Electromagnetic field detection is used on dewatered pipes, to assess the condition of pipe material and reinforcement, by generating an electromagnetic field inside the pipes.

        Ground Penetrating Radars provide an image of the subsurface condition of a pipe or detect soil saturated with water by leaks, by reflecting electromagnetic waves off the pipe through the ground surface.

        Thermography measures the subsurface temperature to detect saturated surfaces from leaks.

        Listening devices are equipment which are used to listen for leaks in the distribution system. These typically include but are not limited to mechanical and electronic listening sticks or rods which are placed on pipe fittings, hydrants or service connections and mechanical and electronic geophones (ground microphones) that are used to listen to leaks from the ground surface.

        Leak Noise Correlators detect the leak sound from the water main or pipe through a receiver unit and two sensors equipped with a radio transmitter and provide information on the location of the leak. This equipment is placed on valves or hydrants on each side of the suspected leak.

        Leak Noise Loggers indicate the presence of a leak without providing a location. These sensors are permanently or temporarily installed at fittings in the distribution system and programmed to monitor noise indicating leakage at night. The data can be collected by radio transmission.

        Tracer gas technique: Gas (not soluble in water, such as hydrogen or helium) is introduced into an isolated segment of a water pipe, and used to detect a leak through which the gas escapes and permeates to the surface of the pipe.

        Ground Penetrating Radars use radar pulses to find leaks by detecting cavities created around the pipe, leaked water under the surface or disturbed ground.

        Advanced Metering Infrastructure are metering systems that measure and centrally store detailed information on water consumption at frequent intervals, without the need for dispatching crew to customer meter locations. The metering system typically consists of a meter reading device, control system, communications and data management hardware and software between meters and peripheral devices and the utility’s business systems. The nature of this network’s installation is permanent.

        Leakage management software: Software solutions to collect or use distribution system data to process distribution system data to determine water loss levels and possibly provide recommendations to reduce water loss.

        District Metered Areas are created by closing existing or installing additional valves to hydraulically isolate and area. It is a small zone of the distribution system, typically encompassing between 1000 and 3000 customer service connections, with measured supply input flow of sufficiently small volume that individual leakage events can be quantified, thereby guiding leak detection deployment decisions.

        Satellite imaging uses images taken of the ground surface to detect signs that indicate leaks.

        Machine learning is used to track parameters and characteristics of the water distribution system to assess the consequence and likelihood of main breaks or leaks in different parts of the system.

        Supplementary software: If any real loss detection methods require the use of additional auxiliary software for leak detection and control, the details are to be provided in this row.

        Step Testing involves isolating sections of main from the zone and the zone meter that is recording the flow or pressure on data loggers. It is performed by gradually closing a valve on the input supply main (the input flow is channeled through only one main) and measuring successive pressure or flow reductions in an isolated zone or District Metered Area of the distribution system.

        Visual surveys involve inspecting the ground above the distribution pipelines for surfacing leaks (wet spots) or unusual green growth patches, especially in arid regions.

        Enter total estimate if individual estimates are unknown.

      • 3. (b) Interventions to reduce real losses through detected leaks include:

        Repair is typically conducted for small segments of pipe for localized failures. (e.g. clamps)

        Rehabilitation involves improving the structural condition of a pipe without replacement. (e.g. sliplining).

        Replacement of pipe is typically required when the existing pipe is severely deteriorated.

        Enter total estimate if individual estimates are unknown.

      • 4. (a) Interventions for monitoring pressure include:

        Pressure loggers measure operational pressure at specific locations in a pressure zone.

        Hydraulic models are computer models that monitor operational and system characteristics using a simulation of the water distribution system, typically using GIS. These models can be used to analyze variations in pressure and other parameters.

        Pressure transient loggers measure pressure at frequent intervals of time (typically 100 readings per second) to detect short and intense surges in pressure.

        Enter total estimate if individual estimates are unknown.

      • 4. (b) Interventions for pressure management include:

        Pressure reduction/modulation valves are used to reduce operational pressure based on required demand or time of day, typically in case of high variation in operational pressure in a pressure zone.

        Booster pump stations are used to provide additional operational pressure for high elevation zones.

        Reduced supply pressure during low demand periods.

        Pressure surge control devices are installed to relieve the distribution system in case of excessive flow or pressure due to pressure surges (e.g. surge tanks, pressure relief valves).

        Enter total estimate if individual estimates are unknown.


    SECTION 16. WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS.

  35. Units of Measure: For the 2016 EAR report and reports in prior years the answers in the section were in Millions of Gallons. You are now able to select the units to use for reporting.

  36. Projected Water Shortages: The current calendar year is January 1 to December 31, 2018.

  37. NEW water conservation measures: “New” refers to a brand new activity or program, or a significant increase in level of effort or an expansion to an ongoing program.

  38. NEW water conservation measures, estimate of water conserved: If you calculated an estimate of savings before program implementation, it may be inserted here.

  39. Method to implement SB 814 on excessive water use: urban retail water suppliers SB 814 (2016) refers to “Urban retail water supplier” as meaning California Water Code Section 10608.12 (p).

  40. “Urban retail water supplier” means a water supplier, either publicly or privately owned, that directly provides potable municipal water to more than 3,000 end users or that supplies more than 3,000 acre-feet of potable water annually at retail for municipal purposes.

  41. Method to implement SB 814 on excessive water use: urban retail water suppliers SB 814 (2016) refers to “Urban retail water supplier” as meaning California Water Code Section 10608.12 (p).

  42. “Urban retail water supplier” means a water supplier, either publicly or privately owned, that directly provides potable municipal water to more than 3,000 end users or that supplies more than 3,000 acre-feet of potable water annually at retail for municipal purposes.

  43. Comments regarding SB814: You may include a web link in your comments.

    SECTION 17. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY FOR WATER UTILITIES.

  44. Only community water systems need to complete this section. A community water system is a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by yearlong residents or regularly serves at least 25 yearlong residents of the area served by the system. It typically includes cities, residential areas, mobile home parks, etc. This section is not required for non-transient non-community, or transient non-community water systems (typically includes campgrounds, restaurants, factories, business parks).

    The State Water Board passed a resolution on March 3, 2017 requiring a proactive approach to climate change in all Board actions, with the intent to embed climate change consideration into all programs and activities. For more information on climate change, please click HERE.

  45. Climate Threats: Check each box that applies. You may check more than one box.

  46. Sensitivity and Magnitude of Impacts: Qualitatively assess sensitivity of your facilities, and plausibility of failure using past experience, and expert judgement based on the magnitude of expected threats in the future. You do not need numeric answers. Consider the criticality or consequence of disruption to understand the scale and scope of the risk posed by changing conditions and extreme events. For each type of climate change impact or row in this section, you may choose one response.

    Resources are available that may help you complete this section:


  47. Adaptation Measures: Identify measures to reduce current vulnerability, or make future modifications based on identified sensitivity of the water system. Indicate status for all projects that your organization has completed, or plan to implement to increase resiliency of the water system to climate change. USEPA’s Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities provides examples of adaptation: https://www.epa.gov/crwu/learn-how-plan-extreme-weather-events. For each adaptation measure or row in this section, you may choose one response.