Popular Annual Financial Report

Macon Water Authority

Popular Annual

Financial Report

2012

This Report is dedicated to the memory of

Chairman Frank C. Amerson, Jr.,

a visionary, a leader, a friend of the MWA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3

MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF 4

THE MWA ANNUAL REPORT 5

THE MWA SYSTEM 6

OUR PATH TO GOLD 7

CHAIRMAN FRANK C. AMERSON, JR., MEMORIAM 8

FINANCIAL ACTIVITY 10

THE VALUE OF WATER IN MACON! 13

DID YOU KNOW? 14

INFRASTRUCTURE & CAPACITY PLANNING 15

GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT 16

COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENTAL INVOLVEMENT 18

MWA AWARDS & RECOGNITION 19

On behalf of the Board and the Employees of the Macon Water Authority, I want to thank you

for your interest in our inaugural edition of the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). This

PAFR covers our fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. The PAFR has been laid out to

provide the reader with an overview of our 2012 fiscal year.

The goal of this inaugural report is to present, in an easy-to-read format, a summary of the

financial activities and events of your Water Authority. It provides a brief analysis of the

sources of the Authority’s revenues and an explanation of how those revenue dollars were

spent. The PAFR also shares with the reader, historical financial information that helps gage

the financial stability of the Authority. These pages include our balance sheet data and debt

coverage ratio’s. The PAFR also highlights examples of a few projects and awards that the

Board and Staff were proud to have brought to our customers.

This year the Authority also lost a dear friend and leader of more than 35 years with the

passing of our Chairman, Mr. Frank C. Amerson, Jr. We have dedicated this inaugural PAFR

to the memory of Mr. Amerson and have included a memoriam within these pages.

I hope you will find this report useful and informative. If you desire more detailed information,

you may access our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) at the MWA website

located at maconwater.org

During the coming year, your Board and Authority staff will continue planning for the

Authority’s long-term financial health and stability as we do each and every year. Our

priorities will continue to focus on customer service, product quality, environmental

stewardship and economic development in the communities that we serve.

A special thank you is owed to the Authority’s Chief Financial Officer, Guy Boyle, the true

author of this, our first PAFR, for his time, effort and commitment in creating this valuable

document.

Please contact me or Chief Financial Officer, Guy Boyle, if you have questions or comments.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Tony Rojas

Executive Director

A Message From your Executive Director

3

Authority Members

Left to Right: R. Kirby Godsey, Ph.D, Chairman; Frank Patterson, Vice-Chairman, Dist. 4;

Dorothy “Dot” Black, Dist. 1; Javors J. Lucas, Dist. 2; Steve Rickman, Dist. 3; Ed DeFore,

City of Macon; Bert Bivins III, Bibb County

Staff Members Tony Rojas, Executive Director

Ray Shell, Assistant Executive Director

Guy Boyle, Chief Financial Officer

Kellie Giles, Human Resources Director

Blain Harrell, Macon Soils Manager

Jimmy McAnn, Information Technology Director

Gary McCoy, Amerson Water Treatment Plant Director

Kirk Nylund, Customer Care & Field Services Director

Larry Reynolds, Wastewater Operations Director

Michel Wanna, Field Operations Director

Mark Wyzalek, Laboratory/Environmental Compliance Director

4

The Annual Report

The Macon Water Authority (MWA) has prepared this 2012 Popular Annual Financial Report

(PAFR) as a means of sharing information about the MWA, in a less technical format, with our

customers and our community partners. The information contained in this PAFR is an unaudited

summary of our fiscal year 2012 ended September 30, 2012. The financial information contained

in this PAFR was taken directly from the audited fiscal year 2012 Comprehensive Annual

Financial Report (CAFR). The CAFR was prepared in conformance with generally accepted

accounting principles (GAAP) and includes financial statements audited by Mauldin & Jenkins,

LLC., a professional CPA Firm. The CAFR is available on our website at www.maconwater.org

Environmental Stewardship

Asset Management

Infrastructure Rehab

Strategic Planning

Capacity Planning

Innovation

Dedication

Project Management

5

Economic Development

The Authority provides both water distribution and sewer services to residential, commercial and wholesale customers. The Water Distribution System has approximately 1,664 miles of water mains and water distribution lines serving approximately 50,000 metered customers. The Authority has one water treatment plant, the Amerson Water Treatment Plant, located on the east bank of the Ocmulgee River in Jones County, GA. Construction began on the Amerson Water Treatment Plant in late 1996 and this state of the art water treatment facility came on-line in the year 2000.

The Amerson Water Treatment Plant intake pipes draw water from the Ocmulgee River which flows through Bibb County. The Authority has a withdrawal permit that allows up to 110 million gallons a day to be withdrawn from the Ocmulgee River. During peak customer demand periods which occur during the summer months, the Amerson Plant often reaches and occasionally exceeds a 40 million gallon per day demand level.

The Authority constructed in the 1990’s and currently maintains the Javors Lucas Lake reservoir that is located on approximately 3,000 protected acres of watershed. Lucas Lake is on the same grounds as the Amerson Water Treatment Plant. Lucas Lake is an off-stream pump storage reservoir. It has been determined the reservoir can provide 72 million gallons a day during extended drought conditions. The Amerson Water Treatment Plant is capable of producing up to 60 million gallons a day. With additional modifications the facility can be expanded to 90 million gallons a day. Equipment and system redundancies allow the Amerson Water Treatment Plant to continually operate without interruption. The State of Georgia’s Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Plan (adopted in 2011) made projections of drinking water capacity needs through the year 2050 and found that the Authority has more than sufficient capacity to meet expected customer growth estimates.

In addition the Javors Lucas Lake and grounds provide a habitat for an abundance of wildlife including deer, turkey, fox and water fowl. Javors Lucas Lake also provides the surrounding communities with access to some of the best fishing in the Middle Georgia area. In addition to the Amerson Water Treatment Plant and Javors Lucas Lake, the Authority maintains 17 large volume water storage tanks and 7 major pump stations throughout its water distribution system.

The Authority operates a sewer system, which includes approximately 220 miles of interceptor sewer lines

and approximately 740 miles of sanitary sewer lines serving nearly 40,253 sewer customers. The sewer

system is supported by seven major lift stations and many smaller lift stations located throughout the

service network. Collected wastewater is treated at one of two wastewater facilities having a combined

capacity of 44 million gallons per day. Wastewater is processed at either the Rocky Creek Water

Reclamation Facility with a capacity of 24 million gallons per day or the Lower Poplar Water Reclamation

Facility with a capacity of 20 million gallons per day.

The System

Water & Sewer Services

6 6

OUR PATH TO GOLD

7

AMWA officials, during the Association’s Annual meeting

in Portland, honored only four other utilities in 2012 with

the Gold Award for “Exceptional Utility Performance.”

The MWA joins Denver (Colorado) Water, Grand Strand

(South Carolina) Water & Sewerage Authority, and

Suffolk County (New York) Water Authority, as 2012

AMWA Gold Award recipients.

“AMWA’s 2012 award winners are industry-leading

water systems with innovative managers and dedicated

workforces who create sustainable utilities marked by

high quality, affordable water, responsive customer

service, and attention to resource management and

environmental protection,” says Pat Mulroy, AMWA

President. “The accomplishments of these exceptionally

well-run public utilities should be a source of pride for

the communities they serve.”

The AMWA evaluation of the Macon Water Authority’s

attributes included praise for the utility’s overall focus on

being a truly progressive, proactive and community-

centered partner with residents and businesses. Specific

examples of MWA performance reaching or exceeding

the AMWA Gold standard included the utility’s

community involvement, such as through land

donations, park creation, financial support for industry

development, and environmental stewardship of local

rivers.

In addition, the MWA was applauded for revamping its

Customer Care and Field Services departments, for

voluntarily developing a watershed protection plan, and

for its proactive role in regional planning, both economic

and environmental. Furthermore, AMWA officials noted

the MWA’s proactive approach to asset management,

including a full mapping of assets through a GIS focus,

as well as the utility’s practices of valve exercising,

manhole rehabilitation, and meter replacement. Finally,

the AMWA leadership, through its Gold Award

designation, praised the MWA for its long-range water

audit program, its strong financial stewardship and

planning, as well as its annual financial support for the

Macon/Bibb County Industrial Authority.

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

(AMWA) has honored the MWA with its Gold Award this

year for exceptional utility performance, making the

presentation to Authority officials during the

Association’s awards ceremony at the 2012 Annual

Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

The Macon Water Authority is in select company. The

MWA’s Gold Award from the AMWA marks only the

fourth time a water utility from the state of Georgia has

won this prestigious national honor. “The receipt of this

award is a credit to our Board and the employees of the

Authority, reflecting their dedication that is being

recognized nationally, while placing our utility in select

company,” says Tony Rojas, Executive Director of the

MWA. “Our Board continues to provide us with the

support and resources we need to improve our

operations, and our employees, through their efforts and

hard work, make it possible for us to provide our

customers with the quality services they deserve.”

The AMWA, in collaboration with the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other

water industry professional associations, has identified

distinct, effective management practices necessary for

water utilities to achieve long-term sustainability. As a

result, this collaboration of industry professionals

spearheaded by the AMWA has developed 10 attributes

of Effectively Managed Utilities, as well as five Keys to

Management Success, which serve as the basis for

Gold Award recognition. These attributes not only focus

on financial and operational goals of a utility, but they

consider all significant aspects of water and wastewater

utility management.

The AMWA Gold Award is given only to those select

U.S. utilities that have shown a commitment and

dedication to sustainability, their local community, and

the environment, through effective utility management

according to the attributes and keys to utility

management success as defined by the AMWA and its

collaborators. The industry organizations providing

panelists who scripted the utility management criteria

for Gold Award status included the: American Public

Works Association, American Water Works Association,

National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National

Association of Water Companies, and Water

Environment Federation, in addition to the AMWA and

EPA.

Attributes

Product Quality

Customer Satisfaction

Employee/Leadership Development

Operational Optimization

Financial Viability

Infrastructure Stability

Operational Resiliency

Community Sustainability

Water Resource Adequacy

Stakeholder Understanding & Support

The Macon Water Authority (MWA) lost its

longtime leader of more than 35 years with the

passing of Chairman Frank C. Amerson, Jr. at

the age of 83, on Friday, September 14, 2012.

“We have lost not only our leader, but a close

friend and mentor to all of us who had the

pleasure of working with him,” says Tony

Rojas, MWA Executive Director. “He was a

giant in our industry, respected throughout the

state of Georgia among water professionals, in

addition to having been one of the most

influential and progressive public officials in

Macon and Bibb County.”

Rojas notes that when Amerson joined the

Authority Board more than 35 years ago, the

utility was not the envy, financially, of other

water systems and local governments as it is

today. During his 35 years on the MWA

Board, Amerson helped to build not only the

Authority’s water and sewer system, but to

improve its fiscal position, by making sound

business decisions and recommendations

based on what was best for the Authority and

the community. He had one of the purest

agendas of any elected official in Macon or

Bibb County, says Rojas.

“Mr. Amerson always tried to steer the Authority

to make business decisions, not political

decisions,” added MWA Vice-Chairman Javors

Lucas, “He would say that he never made a

political decision

while serving on

the Board; he made

strong business

decisions instead.”

According to those

who worked with

him and knew him

best, Amerson’s

greatest passions

were manifested in

his leadership at

the Macon Water Authority and in economic

development for his community. In addition to

serving as the Authority’s Chairman for more

than 35 years, Amerson also served on the

Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority from

2002 until the time of his death. He served as

the Chairman of the Macon-Bibb County

Industrial Authority from 2005 to 2008, while

continuing to serve on the Board of the Macon

Economic Development Commission. He also

served on the State Board of Industry and

Trade, which is now referred to as the GA

Department of Economic Development.

MWA Board Member Frank Patterson notes

that Amerson was entirely committed to his

service as Chairman of the Water Authority,

putting his “heart and soul” into his leadership

post, but being careful not to micro-manage the

utility and its more than 200 employees.

“Whatever we needed to improve the Authority,

its facilities or operations, for the betterment of

our customers and employees, he provided,”

says Rojas. “Mr. Amerson and the Board have

always been supportive of employees and

helping us advance in the profession.”

Amerson’s business and construction

experience also proved invaluable in his role as

a leader in local economic development.

In Memoriam

Frank C. Amerson, Jr.,

Macon Water Authority Member

1976-2012

8

The MWA Chairman was instrumental in

facilitating a change in the Authority’s Charter

that would allow for its annual appropriation of

$704,000 into a revolving fund earmarked for

land acquisition and infrastructure to create

industrial sites to attract business and industry

to Macon and Bibb County. These efforts serve

as yet another example of Amerson’s vision

and progressive economic development

philosophy, adds Rojas.

The MWA Chairman also was a visionary who

foresaw the need for the Authority to have an

adequate and expandable independent water

supply and production capacity – manifested in

the construction of Javors Lucas Lake, a 5.9

billion gallon reservoir that was completed in

1994. Following the flood of ’94, which left

Macon without water service for 19 days due to

the flooding of the Riverside Water Treatment

Plant, Chairman Amerson spearheaded the

effort to secure federal and state funds for the

construction of a new state-of-the-art water

treatment plant. The new water plant was built

next to the reservoir and appropriately bears

Chairman Amerson’s name.

Frank Amerson was a lifetime member of the

Georgia Association of Water Professionals

(GAWP), a rare honor given to those who have

provided more than 30 years of service to the

association and water industry. In 2009,

Amerson received the Greater Macon Chamber

of Commerce’s Economic Development

Lifetime Achievement Award, at which time the

Authority also received an Economic

Development Champion Award. In January, he

also was selected as the Chamber’s Citizen of

the Year. As a tribute to his life-long service to

Macon and Bibb County, his name adorns

Amerson River Park, the site of the former

Riverside Water Plant that was donated by the

Authority to enhance the Ocmulgee Heritage

Trail. The entrance to the I-75 Business Park,

one of two industrial parks that he helped make

possible through his leadership at the MWA,

also bears his name.

In Memoriam

Frank C. Amerson, Jr.,

Macon Water Authority Member

1976-2012

9

$22,694,775

$19,050,670

$3,794,703

$340,130

2012 Revenues

Water Sales

Sewer Sales

OtherOperatingIncome

Non-OperatingIncome

FINANCIAL ACTIVITY

Total Revenues = $45,880,278

• Slight decrease in operating revenues vs. 2011 • Water sales decreased approx. 3.5% • Sewer sales decreased approx. 1.4% • 2011 water & sewer revenues were slightly

higher due to drought conditions • Other operating revenues, which include various

types of permits and fees decreased less than 1% • Non-Operating revenue decreased by approx.

$117,000, the result of lower interest earnings on investments

Total Expenses = $43,151,644

• Operating expenses increased approx. $88,000

vs. 2011 • Ambitious cost reduction budget in our two

waste water reclamation plants • Ambitious cost reduction budget in the

maintenance department • Modest increases in the expenses of the

distribution system and the Amerson Water Treatment plant

$3,944,883

$4,294,680

$5,065,757

$1,636,648

$3,111,397 $9,155,491

$15,942,788

$704,000

$304,990

$3,449,106

2012 Expenses Amerson Water Treatment Plant

Water Distribution

Sewer Treatment Plants

Maintenance

Sewer Services

General & Administrative

Depreciation on Assets

Macon Bibb County IndustrialAuthority

City of Macon

Interest & Fiscal Charges 10

HISTORICAL FINANCIAL ACTIVITY

2007-2012

$-

$10,000,000

$20,000,000

$30,000,000

$40,000,000

$50,000,000

Other Operating Revenue

Sewer Revenue

Water Revenue $-

$5,000,000

$10,000,000

$15,000,000

$20,000,000

$25,000,000

$30,000,000

$35,000,000

$40,000,000

$45,000,000

$50,000,000

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Interest & Fiscal Charges

City of Macon

Macon Bibb County Industrial Authority

Depreciation on Assets

General & Administrative

Sewer Services

Maintenance

Sewer Treatment Plants

Water Distribution

Amerson Water Treatment Plant

Operating Revenues Operating Expenses

11

2012 2011 2010 2009

Total Assets $333,505,535 $343,477,389 $330,690,014 $316,828,131

Total Liabilities $105,446,297 $114,245,054 $104,166,664 $87,775,049

Total Net

Assets

$228,059,238 $229,232,335 $226,523,350 $229,053,082

Balance Sheet

2012 2011 2010 2009

Long Term

Debt

$91,691,520 $99,777,155 $91,924,426 $79,004,149

Debt Coverage

Ratio

2.40 3.21 2.84 3.04

Debt

The debt service coverage ratio is a

financial measure that gages the

ability of an entity to pay principal and

interest payments on its debt.

• Industry target = 1.2 debt coverage

ratio

• MWA board expectation = 1.7 debt

coverage ratio

• MWA nine year historical = 2.2 to 3.2

debt coverage ratio

As of September 30, 2012

• $91.7 million in outstanding debt

The majority of funds have been

used for renewal & replacement of

water and sewer infrastructure.

Debt consists of a mix of fixed &

variable rate bond issues and one

fixed rate note.

BOND RATINGS

The MWA maintains a “AA” bond rating; a measure of solid

financial stewardship by both the Board and Staff of the MWA.

FINANCIAL POSITION DEBT COVERAGE RATIO

12

According to an independent, nationally ranked University Research Institute, the Macon Water Authority’s monthly charge for water and sewer use of 3,000 gallons was listed in the lowest 20% out of 342 water & sewer utility rate structures analyzed in the State of Georgia.

Affordability of water rates measured by this same research institute for 3,000 gallons of water, listed Macon Water Authority rates as being in the lowest quartile out of 342 water and sewer utility rate structures analyzed in the State of Georgia. The affordability measure for Macon Water Authority was based on an annual household income of $26,528 per US Census Bureau data 2007-2011.

Comparisons

• Cell/Smart Phone: a monthly bill of $100 requires nearly 4.5% of annual household income

• Cable: a monthly bill of $62 requires nearly 3.0% of annual household income

• Internet service: a monthly bill of $52 requires nearly 2.4% of annual household income

• 7,500 gallons of Macon Water & Sewer services requires 2.1% of annual household income

Value for 3,000 gallons of use

DID YOU KNOW?

What a Value Water is in Macon!

SYSTEM WATER SEWER TOTAL

City of Atlanta - Outside $ 63.61 $ 139.88 $ 203.49 City of Atlanta - Inside $ 55.12 $ 139.88 $ 195.00

City of Fairburn - Outside $ 58.58 $ 71.18 $ 129.76 Jackson County $ 58.90 $ 64.80 $ 123.70 Coweta County $ 55.25 $ 50.88 $ 106.13 Athens-Clarke County $ 63.31 $ 39.25 $ 102.56

City of College Park $ 52.10 $ 49.06 $ 101.16

Newton County $ 46.04 $ 54.08 $ 100.12 Henry County $ 45.41 $ 45.41 $ 90.82 City of Fairburn - Inside $ 40.73 $ 47.99 $ 88.72

Douglasville-Douglas County $ 41.28 $ 47.19 $ 88.47 Rockdale County $ 38.54 $ 45.38 $ 83.92 Clayton County $ 38.56 $ 40.08 $ 78.64 City of Augusta $ 29.97 $ 43.72 $ 73.69

Fulton County $ 26.10 $ 46.50 $ 72.60 City of Calhoun - Outside $ 31.99 $ 40.16 $ 72.15 City of Savannah - Outside $ 20.03 $ 42.70 $ 62.73

City of Tifton - Outside $ 21.07 $ 36.66 $ 57.73 City of Calhoun - Inside $ 24.01 $ 31.01 $ 55.02 Columbus Water Works $ 17.75 $ 29.01 $ 46.76

MWA $ 25.40 $ 20.38 $ 45.78

City of Savannah - Inside $ 13.35 $ 28.46 $ 41.81 City of Tifton- Inside $ 14.40 $ 24.98 $ 39.38

Value for 7,500 gallons of use

13

The Authority operates Macon Soils, an Authority subsidiary that handles the

recycling of biosolids. Biosolids are a byproduct of the wastewater treatment

process performed at the Authority's wastewater reclamation facilities. These

biosolids are land applied to area farms for agricultural benefit. Macon Soils also

contracts with another water utility in the State of Georgia to land apply their

biosolids.

Javors J. Lucas Lake

• The Macon Water Authority’s Reservoir is named

after your long serving Board Member Javors J.

Lucas who has represented district 2 on the

Authority for nearly 32 years!

• Javors J. Lucas Lake holds nearly 6 Billion Gallons

of Water!

• When Javors J. Lucas Lake is at “full pool” the lake

sits at 375 feet above sea level!

• No need to Worry…..Javors J. Lucas Lake holds

nearly 8 months worth of water supply!

DID YOU KNOW?

14

Infrastructure Rehabilitation

& Capacity Planning

Allen Rd II Pump Station

The Project consisted of furnishing all labor and materials

required to construct a new duplex (future-triplex) pump

station including a 13’x16’ precast wetwell, 2-150 HP

submersible pumps, valve vault, weir structure, meter vault,

emergency generator, electrical, building, and telemetry.

The project also includes approximately 4,200 L.F. of 24” I.D.

force main utilizing the horizontal directional drill process.

The project also includes modifications and necessary tie-ins

at the Rocky Creek WRF headwork’s structure.

Investment: $5,189,129

Sofkee water Tank

The Project consisted of the installation of a new 500,000 gallon water tank with associated

pumps, piping, grading, foundations, landscape work, storm drainage, erosion control and

connections to existing water lines and existing storm sewer lines. This tank will serve the

Sofkee Park with water demand and fire protection.

Investment: $ 1,410,220

The Authority continues a proactive approach to rehabilitation and capacity planning for

our customers. These are but two examples of the many capital investments made for

the future during 2012!

Ever wonder what the

inside looked like? 15

-

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Mil

lio

n G

all

on

s

Overall Water Loss - Trailing 12 Months

WATER LOSSES:

WATER SUPPLIED:

AUTHORIZED CONSUMPTION:

ACCOUNTS FIELD INVENTORY

• MWA staff are approximately 25% complete with a

comprehensive field inventory of the nearly 66,000 active

and inactive accounts in the system.

• The investigation is providing valuable ground-truthing of

account data including confirmation of meter sizes, serial

numbers, account status and a GPS location. This

helps the authority ensure that all customer consumption

is being accounted for and billed appropriately.

OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS

• Reduction in Total Water Loss from 1,438 MG (2011) to 1,354 MG (2012)

• Improvement in Audit Reliability Score from 68 (2011) to 77 (2012)

In late 2010, the Macon Water Authority (MWA) launched an Annual AWWA Water Audit and

Water Loss Control Program (Program). This is one of the most comprehensive water loss

detection programs of its kind in the State of Georgia. The Program was laid out over five

years, with the following objectives.

• Implement state-of-the-art practices for water loss accounting and control.

• Improve water loss and audit reliability from year to year.

• Connect departments to enhance the culture of efficiency.

The foundation of the Program is the AWWA Water Audit, a guide for resource focus within the

MWA system. Multiple initiatives were designed within the Program to achieve its objectives.

The Program’s effectiveness is measured from the benchmark audit year of 2011. Presented

below is a summary of highlights among key initiatives in the Program as of the end of 2012.

The Water Loss Control Team was formed at the beginning of 2011, and

has been meeting monthly to establish a rigorous water loss accounting

protocol and advance the initiatives in the Program.

GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

WATER LOSS CONTROL PROGRAM

16

Finished Water Meter Flow Verification

• The reliability of the audit is highly dependent on having a rock-

solid measurement of production volumes, which come from the

finished water meters (FWMs) at the Amerson Water Treatment

Plant

• In 2012, MWA worked diligently, with several trials, to establish a

reliable and repeatable accuracy test to confirm the production

volumes. The test protocol that has been established can be

used moving forward to maintain a high confidence in the audit.

Large Meter Testing and Repair

• A pilot testing and repair project has been completed for the large

commercial meters in the MWA system

• The pilot project gives valuables insight into what ongoing testing and

repair activities are needed to manage meter-related revenue losses

for the Authority.

Radio-Read Meter Conversion for Non-Residential

Meters

• MWA updated over 1,100 commercial meters (2” and larger) to state

of-the-art radio-read technology

• This new technology allows the Authority to collect essential demand

data to support many other operations such as hydraulic modeling,

meter right-sizing, leakage management and customer service.

• In 2012, an analysis was performed to determine how

to leverage existing water system data to proactively

manage leakage.

• MWA is currently building an internal Active Leak

Detection Program, by studying what other

established programs look like, and designing a

program that will be effective for the MWA.

LEAKAGE MANAGEMENT

GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

WATER LOSS CONTROL PROGRAM

17

COMMERCIAL METER RIGHT-SIZING ANALYSIS

• In late 2012, an analysis began on a select group of commercial

meters to determine if the meter in place was appropriately size

for the application

• Inappropriately sized meters do not register flow accurately and

result in lost revenue for the Authority.

• Flow data from the Radio-Read Meter Conversion project is being

utilized for analysis.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ocmulgee Alive! was created by MWA

in 2005. This is an annual effort in

partnership with local community groups

and companies along with Georgia EPD’s

Rivers Alive program. Volunteers are

organized to help clean the Ocmulgee

River so as to educate the public on the

importance of water quality since the river

is a source of MWA’s drinking water. The

Macon Water Authority (MWA) and its

partners hosted a record-breaking river

cleanup this year, as 355 volunteers

collected 710 bags of trash and 10,650

pounds of debris, after cleaning 2 miles of

river bank and nearby streams.

Kids Fishing Derby! Each year the

MWA sponsors a fishing derby at Lucas

Lake for kids. Consider the numbers of

the 2012 MWA Kids Fishing Derby and

“record-setting” comes into focus. A

registered 415 children and youth from

ages 3 through 16 were accompanied by

an adult, which meant estimated

attendance eclipsed 800. The crowd of

participants broke last year’s record of

300-plus kids and 600 total attendees.

18

Left to Right: Darryl Macey, Water Distribution & Sewer

Conveyance Manager accepts the Georgia Association of

Water Professionals Gold Award for Best Sewer Collection

System from Pam Burnett & Jack Dozier on behalf of the MWA

Left to Right: Gary McCoy, Blaine Harrell, Kate Kubesheski, Tony Rojas,

Michel Wanna & Kirk Nylund accept the Gold Award on behalf of the MWA

from the American Metropolitan Water Agencies

The MWA received a number of awards from both State and Federal Agencies in 2012

recognizing the utility as an exemplary operation. Exceptional product quality and

Customer Service is only possible when you have strong Board Leadership and

Support and Exceptional Employees!

Left to Right: Chuck Mixon is presented the Operator's

Meritorious Service Award from the Georgia Chapter of

the American Water Works Association by Tony Rojas.

This award is the equivalent of being selected as the Top

Water Plant Operator in the state of Georgia.

Left to Right: Gary McCoy & Sylvia

McCrary accept the Georgia Association of

Water Professionals Lab of the Year Award from Pam Burnett & Jack Dozier on behalf

of the MWA

OTHER AWARDS

• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 15th consecutive year from

the Government Financial Officers Association of the United States & Canada

• Large Water Treatment Plant of the Year Award from the Georgia Assoc. of Water Professionals

• Peak Performance Award for Waste Water Reclamation from the National Assoc. of Clean Water

Agencies

• Platinum Award for Discharge Performance from the Georgia Assoc. of Water Professionals

AWARDS

19

20

Frank C. Amerson, Jr.

Chairman Macon Water Authority

1976 - 2012