A report of the town’s water use is shedding some light on water loss and the potential to save further down the road.
The 50-page report shows the town’s usage and water loss, which comes in at just over 58,000 cubic metres — 8.33 per cent — explained Dave McPhee Tuesday, March 22 during a regular council meeting.
He said the report is something that should be conducted and submitted to the province annually to meet provincial water monitoring mandates. As this was the first year of this report in some years, McPhee said it is challenging to determine water use and water loss.
Tracking water loss requires two components: what is paid for and what is tracked. It also depends on the times of tracking water use. McPhee says after a few years of tracking the data the town will be able to get a more clear picture of the situation.
As for the numbers the town purchased just over $715,000 cubic metres in 2015 with 657,000 cubic meters being accounted for. There were some locations that did not have water meters. Those areas have been fixed with crews installing meters at the town shop and fire hall.
McPhee said a water meter at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre was installed that was too big and would not track lower flow water. He said that meter has been replaced and planners expect to account for 9,000 cubic meter difference for 2016.
Other town-owned buildings included Hudson Green Nature and Activity Centre and the Ponoka Jubilee Library.
“It will get better. A little more accurate as it goes,” said McPhee of the statistics.
CAO Albert Flootman said that while there is a loss it is below the provincial standard of 10 per cent allowable.
“It points to a well-maintained system,” said Flootman.
The town also conducted two sewage discharges at 829,000 cubic meters with 12 chemical-analyses samples taken.