LaFayette

What the utility reported

In 2025, LaFayette supplied 1,312.7 million gallons and reported 612.0 million gallons lost, or 46.6% of supply. That equals 1,676,607 gallons per day.

Physical leakage changed +10.1% since 2024, +37.0% since 2020 and +60.8% since 2016. Total losses changed +4.0% in the latest year. Changes in meters, methods or audit boundaries can affect reported trends.

Reported by the utility / calculated from the audit 2025 EPD compilation, worksheet “2025 Water Audits ”, row 129. Definitions.

What deserves a closer look

Purchased water and leakage are both large

LaFayette reported importing 618.0 million gallons in 2025 and estimated 603.8 million gallons of physical leakage. These are systemwide volumes. The audit cannot identify which imported or locally produced gallons leaked.

Production-cost input fell from $825 to $193 per million gallons. Total loss valuation fell from $571,715 to $140,858 while leakage increased +10.1%. A lower valuation is not evidence of less leakage.

The reported annual operating cost of $226,074 and changes in mains length deserve a documented financial and inventory reconciliation. A loss-valuation/operating-cost ratio is withheld here.

GEFA awarded a $3,930,000 Georgia Fund loan for a new Walker County WSA interconnection, approximately 16,100 linear feet of 20-inch transmission main and a backflow prevention vault. GEFA describes redundancy and development capacity as project purposes. The announced loan has no interest and a 40-year term. This announcement does not establish project completion or explain past audit losses.

GEFA announcement, August 20, 2026. Financing is separate from historical audit results.

Physical and apparent losses over time

Compare more than one measure

A physical service connection is not necessarily one home or one bill. Main length, pressure, density and input quality differ across systems.

Where its water came from

Net supply accounts for exports and source-meter adjustments. Raw own-source and import values may not sum directly to adjusted supply. These audits cannot trace a particular leaked gallon to a particular source.

Costs and infrastructure decisions

Physical leakage is typically valued at variable treatment, pumping and purchase costs. Apparent losses are usually valued at retail charges. The full valuation is not guaranteed savings. Project costs, fixed expenses and contract terms matter. Values are retained as filed; historical unit or basis changes limit comparison.

A loss-valuation/operating-expense ratio is withheld until the financial inputs and expense scope are reconciled. Dividing valuation by physical connections does not estimate an individual customer’s bill increase.

The default $1 is an illustration, not a utility cost estimate. Include incremental operating costs when assessing a real program. Fixed labor, debt and contracted purchase minimums may remain.

Data quality and system characteristics

An unusual input warrants explanation, not automatic correction. The leakage index compares real losses with a theoretical reference based on pipes, connections and pressure. Respect applicability flags and inspect the underlying workbook before using it. How to evaluate audit quality.

Who governs this water system?

City-owned utility; Mayor and City Council

The city says it owns and operates the water treatment and distribution system. City governance and agendas are separate from the county water authority.

Official utility information · Governing body · Meetings and public documents

Links checked October 14, 2026. Consult current posted meeting notices. Geographic location does not establish county government control.

Records that would explain the figures

The annual compilation does not include all underlying meter results, audit notes, repair records, contracts or engineering studies.

1. Why did reported connections fall by 653 in one year? Did audit boundaries or the counting method change?

   Records: Complete annual audit workbooks, Comments and Notes, meter verification, and the current water-loss control program.

2. What explains the mains-length revisions and the fall in the variable production-cost input?

   Records: Input worksheets, pipe inventory, connection counts, and corresponding financial records.

3. What measured leak-reduction work addresses the growth in physical gallons?

   Records: Monthly water balances, leak and repair logs, meter tests, targets, budgets and annual progress reports.

Records worth requesting Officials’ oversight checklist