U.S. Water News Online
DALLAS -- The Dallas water department cannot account for 26 billion gallons of water that cost more than $7.5 million to produce, according to the city auditor.
The loss amounted to more than 17 percent of the water the city produced in the last fiscal year. Experts say utilities should be able to account for at least 90 percent of the water they produce.
In a report, the city auditor said rates might have to be increased to pay for needed infrastructure improvements.
Some city council members said the department's performance was an embarrassment.
``This is a shambles,'' council member Mitchell Rasansky said. ``It's unconscionable to know your water department is operating like this.''
Department officials disputed the auditor's findings -- they claimed only about 12 percent of the water was not accounted for -- and said steps have been taken to fix problems.
``We are making changes,'' Maria Alicia Garcia, the water department's assistant director for business, told The Dallas Morning News.
The department is without a permanent director. The former director took a job in private industry, and a replacement has not been named.
In a report that covered the past five years, the city auditor said the water department had failed to make improvements that could have saved money. It said pipelines were replaced more slowly than recommended by industry guidelines.
The audit found an account that was out of balance by more than $9 million for two years and said the department failed to reconcile the amount of water produced with billings. The agency said all accounts have been reconciled in recent months.
Council member Mary Poss said the department must balance its books and improve its performance before the city asks water customers for a rate increase.
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