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Water Loss Audit Mandate: The Signing of Senate Bill 347 and What It Means for Water Utilities in Indiana

Posted By Andrew Gordon on April 11, 2016

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On March 22nd Governor Mike Pence signed Senate Bill 347 into law, requiring water utilities complete a water loss audit and an infrastructure needs assessment and submit the results to the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). The IFA is then required to compile the results and report to the Indiana General Assembly by November 1, 2016. The bill also requires the IFA to study, analyze, and report on the infrastructure needs of Indiana’s water utilities. The IFA is required to submit this report on Indiana’s water infrastructure to the executive director of the Legislative Agency by November 1, 2017. (IC 8-1-30.7)

 “Who does this law affect?”

 Water Utilities and their owners 

“What does the new law mean for our utility?”

Water Utilities will receive a letter from the IFA requiring the Water Utility perform a water loss audit and infrastructure needs assessment and submit the results to IFA by May 27, 2016. This means a lot of work in a very short period of time.

“I received a letter from the IFA requesting a water audit, what should I do next?”

If you have already completed a water audit, all you need to do is submit your results to the IFA. You may plan to implement the action plan from your audit. If you have not completed a water audit or would like to complete a new water audit, you can download the free AWWA water loss audit software from the AWWA website.

“I need help completing my water loss audit who can I turn to?” or “I have completed my water audit, but I am unsure of how to implement the information?”

If you are a do-it-yourself type person, IRWA is offering a workshop on 8 different dates at different locations around the state of Indiana that will assist you with completing the audit spreadsheet. Information regarding these workshops should have come with the letter from IFA. If not, contact our office and we will provide you with the locations and dates.

If you need assistance with your water loss audit or just don’t have time to get it done by May 27th, our Drinking Water engineers  at Wessler are available to help water utilities perform their water audits, better understand the audit results, and if needed, implement an action plan based on the water audit. You can contact us at 317-788-4551 or contact Andrew Gordon, P.E. at andrewg@wesslerengineering.com for more information.

Still have questions about what a water loss audit is and how it can benefit your water utility? Check out our recent blog on Nonrevenue Water and Water Loss Audits

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