Page 20 - Water Loss Control

2 Cha pte r O n e

But with the demands of growing populations, realization of the limits on our natural
resources and increasing costs from regulations and customer demands, it is becoming
increasingly unrealistic to allow water loss to be ignored.
Upon close evaluation it appears that many of the reasons for water loss from meter
error, leakage, or data mishandling are actually based on human failings and lack of
2
maintenance. Dickinson has concluded that while it is difficult to generalize, the most
common reasons for water utilities not to address water loss in an appropriate manner
are: “political infeasibility of admitting system leakage, falsifying water accounting
records, lack of recognition that recapturing nonrevenue water with an upfront
investment is a still great business case with fast payback, and inherent mistrust of
anyone outside the utility examining their system.”
The intention of this manual is to explain the reasons why suppliers should reduce
lost water and identify how to resolve water loss problems using today’s technology in
an economically sound manner.
All water utilities and industrial and residential end users should practice water
loss control and water conservation regardless of the size of their system or nature of
their use. The level of water loss management effort that is being exercised by water
suppliers worldwide varies widely. Unfortunately, most of the water industry in the
United States and many parts of the world accord water loss only secondary priority
since the true economic and social impact of water loss has not yet been realized by
policy-makers. In this status water loss continues to suffer from a lack of good auditing
practices and a failure to reduce leakage proactively; instead waiting for the next
customer complaint to prompt the supplier to reactively repair the next problem leak.
However, in a small but growing number of countries throughout the world,
comprehensive water efficiency goals have been established. Water conservation,
watershed protection, reuse and the new discipline of leakage management have been
implemented as required practice by the highest level of government and supplier
performance is closely monitored and sometimes regulated. This new model of water
resources management is the way of the future because it must be, if mankind is to
continue to sustain its growth and its environment.

1.2 The Purpose of This Manual and Its Structure
This manual discusses in great detail methodologies to assess the volume of water
losses, water loss control methods and technology, and is aimed at providing the
practitioner with all the necessary background and theory to apply proactive water loss
management. However, this book also seeks to promote awareness, foster positive
attitudes, and pull together not just the ideas of the authors, but also those of other
specialists in the field. In addition to our ideas and
thoughts stemming from many years of hands-on
field intervention against water loss and inefficient
This book provides many use-
use, this book also highlights up-to-date case studies
ful case studies, which may be
and industry-specific papers to reinforce the
used to justify implementation
concepts and methods already being successfully
of a more aggressive water applied in the field.
loss management program in Case studies are an excellent tool for assisting
your utility. operators in preparing a master plan that takes an
aggressive stance against water loss and inefficiency.