CVWD implemented remote pressure loggers and operational changes to address pressure transients caused by aging infrastructure and pump operations, resulting in significant leak reduction and cost savings.

Key Highlights

• CVWD faced frequent leaks and pressure surges due to aging pipes and pump operations, prompting a need for better system visibility.
• The district selected Mueller pressure loggers for their affordability, quick deployment, and ease of installation, feeding real-time data into their water management platform.
• Operational changes included staggered pump scheduling, expanded tank levels, and soft starts with VFDs, which immediately stabilized pressure and reduced leaks.

Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD) team.

For 75 years, the Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD) has delivered safe and reliable water service to residents northeast of Los Angeles. Serving 8,500 connections across the rugged Los Angeles foothills, with 11 distinct pressure zones and aging infrastructure, has its challenges.

Gabriel Gomez became System Operations Manager in October 2024 and was promoted to Assistant Director of Operations a year later. He recognized the system lacked visibility into its downstream operations. In November 2024 alone, there were 17 service leaks and three main breaks, resulting in 20 separate incidents requiring emergency response.

"We were looking at ways to make things more efficient, and also to figure out what was happening in the water system," explained Gomez. While CVWD had SCADA systems monitoring pump stations, they had no visibility into what occurred downstream in the distribution network.

The root cause wasn't simply aging pipes. The district's constant uphill pumping created severe pressure transients. These sudden spikes and drops rippled through the system whenever pumps activated or deactivated. In some areas, pressure swings reached 70 to 80 psi, subjecting pipes, motors, and service connections to mechanical stress.

Selecting the right solution

Assistant Director of Operations for CVWD Gabriel Gomez.

Drawing on his previous utility experience, Gomez advocated for remote pressure monitoring that was reliable, affordable, and deployable without extensive contractor support. After evaluating multiple vendors, CVWD selected Mueller pressure loggers.

“While other manufacturers took weeks to respond to inquiries, Mueller delivered units within a month of quoting,” said Gomez. “The cost for 11 units, one for each pressure zone, came in significantly lower than competing bids, at approximately $15,000-$20,000 total.”

The loggers are designed for simple installation and CVWD staff deployed all units in-house using existing abandoned sample stations. By October 2025, all 11 units were operational and feeding real-time data into the Sentryx platform.

Data-driven operational changes

Gomez began overlaying logger data with the district's SCADA system. The graphs revealed massive pressure spikes aligned with pump activity.

Staggered Pump Scheduling: Pumps were rescheduled to prevent pressure surges.

Expanded Tank Level Ranges: Reduced pump cycling frequency for stability.

Soft Start Installation: Pumps ramp up gradually using VFDs to smooth pressure changes.

The impact appeared almost immediately, with reduced leak frequency.

A stunning ROI

Pressure logging before and after implementation.

The reduction in leaks followed a clear downward trend:

• September: 20 total leaks
• October: 10 total leaks
• November: 3 total leaks
• December: 2 total leaks
• January 2026: 2 total leaks

CVWD avoided approximately $100,000–$120,000 in repair costs in just three months.

“We estimate a six to seven times return on investment,” said Gomez.

Doubling down with leak detection

The district is now piloting the EchoShore-DX leak monitoring system to detect leaks before they surface.

By combining pressure monitoring with acoustic detection, CVWD is shifting from reactive repairs to proactive infrastructure management.

“By spending less than $20,000 on pressure monitoring, we eliminated over $100,000 in repair costs within a quarter.”

CVWD's results show a clear roadmap: measure, optimize, and invest strategically in technologies that deliver measurable results.