City Pipestone is losing less water than it did a few years ago.
The city lost 63,347,750 gallons of water in 2018, according to information provided by Water and Sewer Superintendent Joel Adelman. This means water was pumped out but did not pass through commercial or residential meters. This represented his 35% of the water pumped, an amount of water that would cost him $893,836.75 based on water rates at the time. It was the city’s worst year in terms of water loss since at least 2011. Adelman said a water main break or other issues may have played a role.
The amount of water lost in 2019 was about half that of 2018. Then, in 2020, the amount of water lost rose again to 39,515,600 gallons, representing 24.09 percent of the water pumped and valued at $675,716.76.
Since then, the amount of water lost has steadily decreased. In 2023, 13.59% or 19,838,600 gallons were lost, or $357,094.80 based on current water rates. So far this year, 1,616,800 gallons have been lost, or 7.8%. This equates to $33,144.40.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has proposed that each city set a target for unused water, and the American Water Works Association, a nonprofit organization that provides water solutions to ensure effective management of water, has set a goal of 10 percent. Indicates that less than the recommended value is recommended.
“We are moving in the right direction,” Adelman said as he presented some of the water loss information to Pipestone City Council members during their April 1 meeting.
He said the main factor explaining the reduction in water loss was likely the replacement of underground piping. This has primarily occurred during infrastructure projects that the city undertakes each year, and also at other times when leaks have been discovered and repaired.
“I think we can point to construction projects that have probably reduced this untreated water,” Adelman said. “I think there are a lot of them.”
The city plans to replace eight more blocks of water mains this year as part of a street and utility improvement project along East Main Street from Eighth Avenue to Second Avenue.
Other factors could include improved metering methods and reduced water usage, Adelman said. The average pumping amount since 2011 was 153,779,286 pieces, and in the past two years it was 149,448,000 pieces and 145,939,000 pieces. The highest volume of pumped water during this period was 183,409,750 in 2018, and the lowest was 142,024,100 in 2011.
Regardless of the factors involved, reducing the amount of water lost means less money spent on chemicals and wear and tear on equipment used to treat water, Adelman said.
“I think it’s just a good situation for the city to be able to bring in money and money and see how things go,” Adelman said.
