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​​​​Who should participate from my utility?

We encourage representation from at least one staff member familiar with supply, billing finance, customer metering, and management.

 

Not sure if your utility previously enrolled?

Email us here.

 

Need to add or edit staff from your utility participating in the FWLP?

Email us here. Be sure to include: utility name, first and last name of the contact, role, and email address.

 

How much time does my utility need to devote to the tasks required in the new learner track?

This is a program and not a 'one-and-done' workshop. Our mission is to teach you and your utility water auditing best practices that you can carry with you well after the program. The new learner track will consist of a 1-day in-person workshop, an approximate 2-hour remote session, another 1-day in-person workshop, and another 2-hour remote session over the course of the 12-16 months. There is minimal effort in preparing for the remote sessions.

 

Why am I considered a new learner?

Utilities are considered New Learners if they partially participated in the FL Water Loss Program from 2023-2024 (Stages 1 and/or 2 only) or if they are completely new to the program.

 

Why am I considered an advanced learner?

Utilities are considered Advanced Learners if they completed at least a CY2023 water loss audit through the FL Water Loss Program.

 

Can I change program routes (new learner, advanced learner)?

Every enrolled utility has the opportunity to take advantage of all training and technical assistance offered through the program. The hope is that New Learners will become Advanced Learners through program participation, which includes establishing a baseline of validated water audit data.

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Advanced Learners can participate in New Learner webcasts and workshops if interested in revisiting the water loss methodology before advancing on in the program.

 

Can my utility skip to receiving direct technical assistance (supply meter testing, billing data analysis, customer meter test analysis/design, real loss component analysis, leak detection)?

One of the goals of the program is to assist utilities to establish and maintain a baseline of annual validated water audit data. Direct Technical Assistance must meet the pre-requisite of annual water audit validation. New Learners must complete the the New Learner curriculum and Advanced Learners must complete the most recent Calendar Year Water Audit Validation.​

 

What is water audit validation?

Water audit validation is the comprehensive process of confirming the accuracy and trustworthiness of data inputs and outputs within a utility's annual water audit. Our team will assist you in scheduling your water audit validation sessions and preparing the necessary data requests collecting in advance of the session.

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What is included in the supply meter testing offering?

Supply meter testing, also known as production flowmeter verification, is the process of confirming the measurement accuracy of devices that handle bulk water volumes, including water from a utility's own sources, imported, and exported water. Our team will work with participants to determine the appropriate supply meter test method and schedule to conduct the test.

 

What is included in the billing data analysis offering?

Billing data analysis, often performed as a data-mining analysis, involves extracting and reviewing a utility's customer consumption database, typically in a digital format and identifies anomalies, suspicious billing patterns, or other inconsistencies. Our team will consult participants who have adequate consumption data to review their raw billing data to the account level.

 

What is included in the customer meter test analysis offering?

This analysis quantifies the volume of under-registered water due to customer metering inaccuracies (CMI), which improves the validity of the water audit and helps identify individual meters or cohorts that require repair or replacement to reduce apparent losses. Our team will work with participants who have adequate customer meter test records for analysis and to inform customer metering inaccuracies in the water audit.

 

What is included in the customer meter test design offering?

Customer meter test design is crucial for accurately assessing the collective precision of a utility's meters, aiming to quantify apparent losses and pinpoint individual units needing repair or replacement. Our team will request meter inventory data to help prioritize a customer meter testing program.

 

What is included in the real loss component analysis offering?

Real Loss Component Analysis (RLCA) is a detailed method that analyzes the occurrence of various leakage components within a water distribution system to help identify cost-effective leakage control strategies and frequencies. Our team will request break data from participating utilities to conduct the RLCA. This will help the utility understand what real loss intervention strategies they should consider.

 

What is included in the leak detection offering?

Leak detection is a proactive process aimed at identifying and pinpointing hidden, unreported leaks within a water distribution system, including on customer service lines, before they become visible and disruptive. Our team will assess participant's level of real losses and reliability in their water audit data to determine if a leak detection survey is appropriate. If it is, then we will work with your utility to identify a portion of your system to survey.

 

How long is the program?

The program spans to the end of 2027.

 

If my utility is considered an advanced learner because of our previous participation, but we have new staff members we’d like to get up to speed, what should we do?

Reach out to the program management team! Your new staff members can (and should!) participate in New Learner webcasts and workshops to build a solid foundation on the water loss methodology.

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