million gallons of estimated physical leakage
UTILITY PROFILE / CHATTOOGA
Summerville
Chattooga County audit grouping. Ten-year reporting period: 2016–2025. Latest audit: 2025. Annual estimates help identify questions about infrastructure and spending.
What the utility reported
In 2025, Summerville supplied 841.2 million gallons and reported 314.2 million gallons lost, or 37.4% of supply. That equals 860,921 gallons per day.
million gallons of apparent losses
gallons of physical leakage / connection / day
Physical leakage changed +57.2% since 2024, +74.7% since 2020 and +240.4% since 2016. Total losses changed +48.4% 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 205. Definitions.
What deserves a closer look
Read physical and apparent losses together
The 2025 audit assigns 283.9 million gallons to physical leakage and 30.3 million to apparent losses. Apparent-loss valuation is $232,641 using the reported retail charge.
Physical leakage changed +57.2% since 2024. Review both the source/consumption records and meter-loss assumptions before choosing pipe or billing interventions. Population and the 2023 variable-cost input need explanation.
Physical and apparent losses over time
Reported water losses, 2016–2025
Compare the total gallons with the two types of loss. An apparent-loss revision can also change the residual physical estimate.
Interactive chart loading. Exact annual values are available in the table below and the source downloads.
Source: Georgia EPD annual compilations, 2016–2025. Missing observations remain missing. Figures are audit estimates; changed methods and inputs can affect the trend.
| Audit year | Supplied (MG) | Total loss (MG) | Physical (MG) | Apparent (MG) | Loss / supply | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 657.42 | 114.54 | 83.42 | 31.12 | 17.4% | 2016 EPD compilation, worksheet “2016”, row 196 |
| 2017 | 637.92 | 142.24 | 113.75 | 28.48 | 22.3% | 2017 EPD compilation, worksheet “Sheet1”, row 196 |
| 2018 | 663.67 | 142.63 | 131.89 | 10.74 | 21.5% | 2018 EPD compilation, worksheet “2018 Final”, row 204 |
| 2019 | 714.40 | 175.17 | 163.98 | 11.19 | 24.5% | 2019 EPD compilation, worksheet “2019 Water Audits”, row 202 |
| 2020 | 701.01 | 184.01 | 162.56 | 21.46 | 26.2% | 2020 EPD compilation, worksheet “Final Version”, row 204 |
| 2021 | 724.12 | 188.22 | 165.99 | 22.24 | 26.0% | 2021 EPD compilation, worksheet “Final”, row 202 |
| 2022 | 838.97 | 301.64 | 279.12 | 22.52 | 36.0% | 2022 EPD compilation, worksheet “Final”, row 203 |
| 2023 | 844.49 | 267.24 | 238.78 | 28.46 | 31.6% | 2023 EPD compilation, worksheet “2023 Water Loss Audits”, row 197 |
| 2024 | 835.99 | 211.80 | 180.63 | 31.17 | 25.3% | 2024 EPD compilation, worksheet “2024 Water Audits”, row 201 |
| 2025 | 841.16 | 314.24 | 283.94 | 30.29 | 37.4% | 2025 EPD compilation, worksheet “2025 Water Audits ”, row 205 |
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
| 2025 supply item | Million gallons |
|---|---|
| Own sources | 824.337 |
| Imported from other systems | Not reported |
| Exported to other systems | Not reported |
| Adjusted net water supplied | 841.160 |
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.
Produced, imported and exported water, 2016–2025
Interactive chart loading. Exact annual values are available in the table below and the source downloads.
Source: Georgia EPD annual compilations, 2016–2025. Missing observations remain missing. Figures are audit estimates; changed methods and inputs can affect the trend.
Where every 100 gallons went
Billed use, legitimate unbilled use, apparent losses and estimated physical leakage add up to supplied water. Firefighting and flushing mains are authorized uses.
Calculated from the selected audit. Physical leakage is the residual after authorized use and apparent losses, not a measurement of every leak. Non-revenue water also includes legitimate unbilled use.
Costs and infrastructure decisions
| 2025 financial field | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Physical-loss valuation | $167,212 |
| Apparent-loss valuation | $232,641 |
| Total estimated loss valuation | $399,853 |
| Physical-loss valuation basis | VPC |
| Variable production cost ($ / MG) | $589 |
| Retail charge ($ / 1,000 gallons) | $7.68 |
| Reported annual operating expense | Not reported |
Physical leakage is typically valued at variable treatment, pumping and purchase costs. Apparent losses are usually valued at retail charges. The full valuation is not guaranteed savings. Project costs, fixed expenses and contract terms matter. Values are retained as filed; historical unit or basis changes limit comparison.
A loss-valuation/operating-expense ratio is withheld until the financial inputs and expense scope are reconciled. Dividing valuation by physical connections does not estimate an individual customer’s bill increase.
Reported physical and apparent loss valuations, 2016–2025
Interactive chart loading. Exact annual values are available in the table below and the source downloads.
Source: Georgia EPD annual compilations, 2016–2025. Missing observations remain missing. Figures are audit estimates; changed methods and inputs can affect the trend.
| Year | Production cost ($/MG) | Retail ($/1,000 gal) | Operating expense | Physical valuation | Apparent valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 287.31 | 5.91 | $1,206,528 | $493,032 | $183,920 |
| 2017 | 286.47 | 5.91 | $991,160 | $672,289 | $168,334 |
| 2018 | 481.26 | 3.73 | $3,057,405 | $491,960 | $40,061 |
| 2019 | 278.92 | 3.63 | $1,862,826 | $45,738 | $40,609 |
| 2020 | 281.69 | 3.55 | $2,634,138 | $45,791 | $76,170 |
| 2021 | 397.63 | 6.05 | $2,115,000 | $66,001 | $134,526 |
| 2022 | 397.63 | 6.05 | $2,115,000 | $110,986 | $136,264 |
| 2023 | 2,913.00 | 5.93 | $300,042 | $695,568 | $168,792 |
| 2024 | 591.28 | 7.32 | Not reported | $106,806 | $228,159 |
| 2025 | 588.89 | 7.68 | Not reported | $167,212 | $232,641 |
ILLUSTRATIVE SCENARIO
What would a leakage reduction avoid?
Test an assumed reduction and an independently chosen avoidable cost. These are hypothetical variable expenses before repair and program costs. No future rate reduction is predicted.
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
Audit data validity, 2016–2025
A score documents input practices and checking. It is not a numerical accuracy percentage or a water-safety grade.
Interactive chart loading. Exact annual values are available in the table below and the source downloads.
Source: Georgia EPD annual compilations, 2016–2025. Missing observations remain missing. Figures are audit estimates; changed methods and inputs can affect the trend.
| Year | Mains (mi) | Connections | Pressure (PSI) | Population | ILI / applicability | Software | Source flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 225.0 | 5,168 | 80 | 11,651 | 1.43 / True | AWWA v5 layout | Real losses valued at retail rate (CRUC), not production cost, so its dollar loss is not comparable |
| 2017 | 225.0 | 5,173 | 80 | 11,651 | 1.95 / True | AWWA v5 layout | Real losses valued at retail rate (CRUC), not production cost, so its dollar loss is not comparable |
| 2018 | 225.0 | 5,573 | 80 | 11,651 | 2.20 / True | AWWA v5 layout | Real losses valued at retail rate (CRUC), not production cost, so its dollar loss is not comparable |
| 2019 | 225.0 | 5,180 | 80 | 9,558 | 2.82 / True | AWWA v5 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
| 2020 | 225.0 | 5,190 | 80 | 11,651 | 2.79 / True | AWWA v5 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
| 2021 | 225.0 | 5,198 | 80 | 11,651 | 2.85 / True | AWWA v6 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
| 2022 | 225.0 | 5,198 | 80 | 11,651 | 4.79 / True | AWWA v6 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
| 2023 | 200.0 | 5,300 | 80 | 4,500 | 4.36 / True | AWWA v6 layout | Data validity score below 50 (EPD guidance p.9 threshold); Population served changed >50% from prior audit |
| 2024 | 200.0 | 5,300 | 80 | 4,500 | 3.30 / True | AWWA v6 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
| 2025 | 200.0 | 5,300 | 80 | 4,500 | 5.18 / True | AWWA v6 layout | No cleaned-workbook flag |
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.
Source footnotes and available audit comments
| Year | Source footnotes | Available compilation comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; rep_real_gal_conn_day=N/A | Volume from own sources; Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses); Unauthorized consumption; n/a; n/a; Summerville 2015 WATER AUDIT.xls |
| 2017 | billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; rep_real_gal_conn_day=N/A | Volume from own sources; Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses); Unauthorized consumption |
| 2018 | billed_unmetered=Note 1; rep_real_gal_conn_day=N/A | Volume from own sources; Customer retail unit cost (applied to Apparent Losses); Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses) |
| 2019 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; rep_real_gal_conn_day=N/A | Volume from own sources; Customer retail unit cost (applied to Apparent Losses); Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses) |
| 2020 | water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; rep_real_gal_conn_day=N/A | Volume from own sources; Customer retail unit cost (applied to Apparent Losses); Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses) |
| 2021 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1 | Level III (51-75); Volume from own sources; Customer retail unit cost (applied to Apparent Losses); Variable production cost (applied to Real Losses) |
| 2022 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; nrw_volume_2=Note 6 | No extra compilation comment |
| 2023 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1 | No extra compilation comment |
| 2024 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; total_annual_operating_cost=Note 2 | No extra compilation comment |
| 2025 | water_imported=Note 1; water_exported=Note 1; billed_unmetered=Note 1; unbilled_metered=Note 1; total_annual_operating_cost=Note 2 | No extra compilation comment |
Some older extra columns contain software labels rather than substantive comments. Full provenance preserves their original column positions. Download complete source-cell provenance.
Who governs this water system?
Independently documentedCity utility; Mayor and City Council
Council page identifies five council members and a mayor. Published regular meeting: second Monday, 5 p.m., City Hall, 120 Georgia Avenue. Document repository is linked by the official city website.
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.
- What field conditions or audit-input changes explain the 2025 rebound?
Records: Complete annual audit workbooks, Comments and Notes, meter verification, and the current water-loss control program.
- Why does the population entry fall while the connection count stays stable?
Records: Input worksheets, pipe inventory, connection counts, and corresponding financial records.
- What caused the 2023 production-cost spike, and can the financial worksheet reconcile it?
Records: Monthly water balances, leak and repair logs, meter tests, targets, budgets and annual progress reports.