Key Takeaways:
– Despite recent rain, New York is still experiencing severe drought, threatening a drought emergency.
– The state’s old, leaky water infrastructure results in significant water loss of about 15% per year, equivalent to 155 million gallons daily.
– Several other cities, including Syracuse and Utica, experience substantial water losses, leading to billions of gallons wasted yearly.
– The lack of standardized reporting prevents accurate measurement of water loss due to leaks, complicating efforts to address the issue.
– As climate change intensifies, water conservation and leak repairs become more crucial in maintaining water supplies and reducing carbon emissions.
Challenges Amid Drought
Last week, rain returned to New York City, breaking a nearly two-month drought. However, the region remains in drought, and reservoirs supplying the city’s drinking water are only about 60% full, normally holding 80%. The ongoing dry conditions could potentially escalate into a ‘drought emergency’, mandating water use restrictions.
Authorities advise residents to reduce water use by taking shorter showers, stop using water not crucially necessary, and report leaky hydrants. Yet, a significant source of water loss connected to the town’s leaky infrastructure remains unaddressed.
NYC’s Leaky Infrastructure: A Hidden Culprit
In 2021, New York City lost approximately 15% of water passing through its pipes, equating to around 155 million gallons every day. This figure includes unbilled water used for system flushing, firefighting, billing issues, and more significantly, leakages. Notably, it’s estimated that 35 million gallons leak daily from one part of its main aqueduct.
The situation is bleaker in some upstate areas. Syracuse, the state’s sixth-largest drinking water system, reports that only 40% of the water passing through its pipes is sold, the remaining 60% is unaccounted for. If accurate, Syracuse alone loses over 8 billion gallons of water each year. Other cities like Utica, Yonkers, Rochester, and parts of Buffalo also report severe water losses.
In total, New York’s ten largest water systems lose water equivalent to nearly 400 Olympic swimming pools daily, much attributed to the aging water pipelines over 100 years old.
Need for Better Measurement and Reporting
Nonetheless, some in the industry doubt the high water loss figures reported by cities like Syracuse. Steve Cavanaugh, an engineer and consultant specializing in water loss, argues that these discrepancies likely stem from measurement rather than infrastructure issues.
Many water systems may have outdated, mechanical meters undercounting actual water use. Other systems might overestimate their water distribution to begin with, making it seem like they’re losing more than they really are.
However, few utilities attempt to identify the root causes of their losses, meaning they lack information on the extent of losses due to leaks and the cost-effectiveness of repairs.
Taking Action Proactively
Fixing leaks can be costly, but it’s an investment that pays off. Not only does it save customers money in the long run, it also reduces unnecessary carbon emissions due to wasted energy used to treat and transport the lost water.
Last year, the state legislature preserved $500 million annual funding for clean water infrastructure. Advocates are pushing for an increase to $600 million to aggressively address the state’s water infrastructure problems.
As the climate crisis intensifies, making the state oscillate between floods and drought, water conservation has never been more urgent. Addressing infrastructure leaks may have traditionally stayed low on the list of priorities, but today, it’s considered an essential part of achieving sustainable, water-secure cities in the face of climate change.