Clay County Water & Sewer District Director Dusty Beal reviews a water audit with commissioners.
By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County Water & Sewer District is losing water, and money, due to an abundance of leaks from faulty pipes and valves, accidental line breaks and theft.
In a report to county commissioners on Oct. 6, Water & Sewer District Director Dusty Beal referred to the leaks as “hemorrhaging money.”
To date, he reported $122, 552 in losses with leaks accounting for $72,306 and the remaining due to faulty meters and theft. Last year, the amount was $188,020.
Leaks make up a big part of revenue loss, about 47 percent. Theft occurs when people run illegal plumbing to their homes. Faulty meters are another problem.
From July to the first of October, leaks, including one caused by an accident on Myers Chapel Road that left much of the town without water for several hours, accounted for 436,170 gallons of lost water.
In August, a water leak on Highway 64 Business created a loss of 150,700 gallons. When a contractor causes a leak, Beal said they have to pay for it. In the preliminary work plan, contractors are shown where water lines are located.
“Every water leak we have essentially doubles what we have to make to make up for it,” he said.
Beal said they are working with engineers to help “stop the bleeding.” Money from $1 million received in American Rescue Plan Act will allow the Water & Sewer District to repair and upgrade its infrastructure.
One change already underway is expected to save both time and money — radio read meters. Beal said the meters are more accurate and can be read minute by minute to better detect leaks in the system.
Instead of shutting down a larger portion of the system, the radio meter will find the problem area.
“If we have a leak, we can isolate that section and not shut down the entire town,” he said.
A few radio read meters already have been installed by Ledford & Parker along the Highway 69 road construction project.
The massive replacement of meters within the entire system will most likely begin in January 2023. The company where the meters were purchased will send in a crew to take out the old meters and install the updated radio reads.
“It will probably be a year-long process,” Beal said.
The Water & Sewer District is not funded by taxpayer money. It operates from user fees. “We’re working to make the Water & Sewer system operate better and to provide a better service,” Beal said.
Commissioners commended Beal and his work crew for their hard work and long hours.
“Most of the water leaks happen at night, on a chilly night or weekend or something. They don’t happen during the day,” said Commissioner Scotty Penland.
“I’ve got a good work crew, they’re always ready to go,” Beal said.