(1)
Water Loss Control Program. By July 1, 2016, Public water systems shall develop and conduct a water loss control program to investigate, assess, and implement efforts to improve water supply efficiency. Water loss control programs shall be updated periodically as needed. Water loss control programs may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Leakage Management, including distribution system water leakage detection and repairs;
(b) Finished Water Meter Flow Verification;
(c) Customer Water Meter Testing and Calibration;
(d) Resource Allocation, including planned preventive maintenance; and
(e) Revenue Recovery Activities.
(2)
Individualized Goals. Each public water system shall establish individual goals to set measures of water supply efficiency and to improve water supply efficiency. These measures may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Infrastructure Leakage Index;
(b) Water Audit Data Validity Score;
(c) Operational Basic Apparent Losses;
(d) Operational Basic Real Losses; and
(e) Economic Level of Leakage
(3)
Demonstration of Progress.
(a) Public water systems shall make progress toward improving water supply efficiency. Progress may be demonstrated through process and performance measures:
1. Improvement in data validity score to the extent practicable for a specific utility as a process measure of data reliability;
2. The development and implementation of the water loss control program;
3. Improvement in performance measures once a reliable level of validity score has been achieved:
* Operational Basic Real Losses;
* Operational Basic Apparent Losses; and
4. Economic Level of Leakage has been achieved and maintained.
(b) Demonstration of progress shall be documented by public water systems upon application to the Division for a water withdrawal permit or a Permit to Operate a Public Water System as listed below, and may be evaluated by the Division as part of the review of the following applications:
1. An application to renew a water withdrawal permit under the Georgia Groundwater Use Act of 1972, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-90 et seq., or the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-20 et seq.;
2. An application to modify an existing water withdrawal permit which includes an increase in the permitted water supply under the Georgia Groundwater Use Act of 1972, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-90 et seq., or the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-20 et seq.;
3. An application to renew a Permit to Operate a Public Water System for a purchased water system (one that does not otherwise hold a water withdrawal permit from the Division) under the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-170 et seq.; or
4. An application to increase the number of permitted service connections issued to a public water system under the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-170 et seq.
(c) For applications submitted after July 1, 2016 as described under paragraph (3)(b) above, failure to demonstrate progress toward improving water supply efficiency may result in an action by the Director including, but not limited to, the following:
1. A reduction under paragraph (3)(b)1. above in the permitted water quantity for a water withdrawal permit issued to the public water system under the Georgia Groundwater Use Act of 1972, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-90 et seq., or the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-20 et seq.;
2. A denial under paragraph (3)(b)2. above of an application to modify any water withdrawal permit issued to the public water system under the Georgia Groundwater Use Act of 1972, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-90 et seq., or the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-20 et seq.;
3. A denial under paragraph (3)(b)3. above of an application to renew a Permit to Operate a Public Water System for a purchased water system under the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-170 et seq.; or
4. A denial under paragraph (3)(b)4. above of an application to increase the number of permitted service connections issued to the public water system under the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977, O.C.G.A. Section 12-5-170 et seq.
(4)
Administration and Enforcement.
The administration and enforcement of this Rule shall be in accordance with the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, the Georgia Groundwater Use Act, the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.
