Water lost through aging and leaky infrastructure is a waste of taxpayer dollars and the valuable water resource itself. The magnitude of the problem, judging by well-documented estimates of the investment needed in water infrastructure repair and replacement, is considerable both at the national level and within the Chicago metropolitan region.

CMAP is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to improve understanding on water loss control practices and challenges faced by community water suppliers.  In partnership with the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the IDNR Office of Water Resources, CMAP developed An Assessment of Water Loss among Lake Michigan Permittees in Illinois which highlights the results of a study of Lake Michigan permittees' water loss.  The report found that 195 community water systems lost over 22 billion gallons of water in 2012, enough to provide the residential needs of over 698,000 people for one year, and 21 percent of permittees exceed the eight percent annual water loss standard set by IDNR.

To help communities better understand their water systems, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the American Water Works Association, is hosting free Water Loss Audit training through June 2015.