Walker County Water & Sewer Authority

What the utility reported

In 2025, Walker County Water & Sewer Authority supplied 828.5 million gallons and reported 379.9 million gallons lost, or 45.9% of supply. That equals 1,040,758 gallons per day.

Physical leakage changed +47.6% since 2024, -11.4% since 2020 and +0.9% since 2016. Total losses changed +44.9% 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 235. Definitions.

What deserves a closer look

Connections can change the performance rate

Connections rose from 11,164 in 2021 to 13,211 in 2022, while physical leakage changed from 507.1 to 253.8 million gallons. Both the numerator and denominator matter.

Across 2016–2025, leakage volume changed +0.9% and connection count changed +23.2%. The per-connection rate changed -18.0%. Ask whether audit boundaries, counts or methods changed. Average pressure affects the leakage index, not the gallons-per-connection formula.

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?

Water authority Board of Directors

Published regular meeting: second Tuesday, 6 p.m., authority office, 4665 Happy Valley Road, Flintstone. The site says schedules are subject to change; check posted notices.

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. What explains the sharp 2022 change in volume, connections and pressure?

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

2. Why did physical leakage rebound in 2025 after the lower 2024 estimate?

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

3. How are the stable connection and pipe-inventory inputs verified annually?

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

Records worth requesting Officials’ oversight checklist