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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses efficiency in water distribution systems.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ enacts the Water Distribution Efficiency Act, including:
13 • defining terms;
14 • requiring the Division of Water Resources to post a summary of water loss data;
15 • providing for reporting;
16 • requiring the establishment of standards of acceptable levels of water loss; and
17 • addressing processes for dealing with excessive levels of water loss.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 ENACTS:
24 73-10h-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25 73-10h-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26 73-10h-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27 73-10h-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 73-10h-101 is enacted to read:
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33 73-10h-101. Definitions.
34 As used in this chapter:
35 (1) "Division" means the Division of Water Resources.
36 (2) "Governing body" means:
37 (a) for a political subdivision, the political subdivision governing body defined in
38 Section 63A-15-102; or
39 (b) for a private entity, the private entity's board of directors, managing members,
40 partners, or equivalent body.
41 (3) "Standard water loss audit" means a water loss audit that is based on industry
42 accepted methodology and standards.
43 (4) "Water conservancy district" means an entity formed under Title 17B, Chapter 2a,
44 Part 10, Water Conservancy District Act.
45 (5) "Water loss" means the difference between the annual volume of water entering a
46 water distribution system and the annual volume of metered water, unmetered water, or both
47 taken by registered consumers, a water provider, and others authorized to take water.
48 (6) "Water provider" means a:
49 (a) retail water supplier, as defined in Section 19-4-102; or
50 (b) a water conservancy district.
51 Section 2. Section 73-10h-102 is enacted to read:
52 73-10h-102. Summary of water loss data.
53 The division shall annually post on a public website a summary of water loss data
54 reported to the Division of Water Rights by water providers in accordance with Subsection
55 73-2-1(5)(b) and Section 73-5-8.
56 Section 3. Section 73-10h-201 is enacted to read:
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58 73-10h-201. Annual report -- Establishing acceptable amount of annual water
59 loss.
60 (1) A water provider shall prepare an annual written report to the water provider's
61 governing body addressing the amount of water loss within the water provider's system.
62 (2) The governing body of a water provider shall adopt a standard defining an
63 acceptable amount of annual water loss, either as a percentage or in total number of gallons.
64 (3) In adopting a standard under this section, a governing body may, when the
65 governing body determines that a distinction is justified based on engineering judgment:
66 (a) adopt a separate standard for a specific type of infrastructure within the water
67 provider's system;
68 (b) adopt a separate standard for a specific geographic area of the water provider's
69 system; or
70 (c) elect not to adopt a standard for those portions of the water provider's system that
71 are not primarily dedicated to or used to provide potable water to the public.
72 Section 4. Section 73-10h-202 is enacted to read:
73 73-10h-202. Addressing unacceptable water loss.
74 If a water provider has water loss that exceeds the acceptable water loss determined in
75 accordance with Section 73-10h-201, the water provider shall implement one or more
76 processes to address the excessive water loss, which may include:
77 (1) a standard water loss audit;
78 (2) leak detection procedures;
79 (3) an aging infrastructure assessment and replacement plan; or
80 (4) an assessment of meter accuracy, including:
81 (a) calibration and volumetric testing of source meters, including deliveries from
82 another entity; and
83 (b) bench testing of a representative sample of customer meters.