HB 16-1283: Water Loss Accounting Act of 2016

• Public water suppliers serving at least 2,000 acre-feet annually must submit validated water loss audit reports to the Colorado Water Conservation Board annually by June 30, starting June 30, 2018.

• The Colorado Water Conservation Board must adopt guidelines by January 1, 2018 for standardized water loss audits following American Water Works Association methods and establish performance score standards by July 1, 2021.

• Water loss audits must be validated by technical experts and attested by a covered entity's chief financial officer, chief engineer, or general manager; the board may reject incomplete or unvalidated reports.

• Beginning September 1, 2020, the board and Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority may consider audit report submission when deciding whether to provide financial assistance to covered entities.

• The state transfers $150,000 per year for three years from the drinking water revolving fund to support audit report validation assistance and technical training for water loss detection programs.