Phase 12 Challenge

The main objective of the project was to decrease water loss, improve dilapidated infrastructure, remove and improve operational efficiencies and extend water service to unserved areas of the service area. Bluegrass Engineering staff utilized the previously constructed hydraulic model to determine the most feasible, financially prudent water main routings while working with RRWD’s staff to ensure that the goals of the project were achieved. Our staff worked with the staff of RRWD to modify the model where it was necessary based upon field collected data, telemetry data and operators’ feedback to improve the accuracy of the hydraulic model.

Phase 12 Solution & Result

The project included extending new water service by 3 1/2 miles, replacing approximately 4,000 residential meters and replacing approximately 700 service lines that have had repeated breaks. Replacing the residential meters with radio read technology and the service line replacement were selected as part of the project to help reduce the water loss that RRWD is experiencing. Based upon Bluegrass Engineering’s testing of similar-aged meters, it was determined that there were considerable premature failures causing less than allowable accuracy and in some cases, zero reads were encountered.

It is believed that the replacement of the residential meters and service line should reduce the water loss percentage by 10-20 points. This project is slated to be bid in September 2022 with USDA Rural Development concurrence to advertise for bids.