Decherd is losing a substantial amount of treated water due to leakage, and city government is considering what steps need to be taken to improve the situation.

Larry Quattlebaum, project manager for ClearWater Solutions, under contract by the city to make upgrades to the water and wastewater systems, told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Oct. 15 that the city produces more than two million gallons of treated water daily and seems to be losing about 40 percent of it to leakage or for some other reason.

Mayor Mary Nell Hess said questions have surfaced about potential inaccuracies in the metering process. She added that the city is gearing up to install an electronic metering system, and ClearWater Solutions believes more accurate meter readings will show that less water is leaking than what appears to be.

Hess said engineers also suspect leakage is occurring from areas throughout the system. She added that tests will be conducted throughout the water system to determine if they are on the right track.

Alderman Larry Fraley said the city has to take action to try and correct the problem.

“We’ve just got to stop it so we’re not losing money,” he said.