Page 29 - Water Loss Control

W ater Loss Contr ol: A Topic of the Twenty-First Century 11

that entered the distribution system and not by
poorly treated water. The rapidly expanding world
population is requiring more treated drinking water. In the United States alone
Much of this additional population has congregated 24% of waterborne disease
in cities that are already experiencing water stress outbreaks were caused by con-
or in new areas that are removed from readily avail- taminants entering the distribu-
able water sources. tion system. Leaks are an ideal
place for contaminants to enter.
2.5.2 Climate Change and Its Potential We should pay more attention
Impacts on Water Supply to the public health aspect of
The past 200 years have seen a drastic change in leakage management.
emission of greenhouse gases though the ever
increasing use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
This trend has occurred at the same time as large-scale deforestation in many areas
around the globe. In recent years, a large body of scientific evidence has been gathered
showing that human activities such as these are responsible for dramatic changes in the
composition of the atmosphere and that global warming is taking place as a result.
Many leading scientists have predicted that global warming will increase rapidly over
the next century.
In 2005, a study lead by the SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography and published in
the November 17, 2005, issue of the journal Nature investigated the effects of global
warming on water supplies around the world. This study concluded that global warm-
ing will reduce glaciers and storage packs of snow in regions around the world, causing
water shortages and other problems that will impact millions of people. Especially ice
and snow-dependent regions will experience costly disruptions to water supply and
water management systems. For example, it is estimated that vital water resources from
the Sierra Nevada range in California may suffer a 15 to 30% reduction in the twenty-
first century as a result of reduced snow pack runoff. Studies warn that even more
severe problems may occur in regions depending on water from glaciers since their
meltwater cannot be replaced. Vanishing glaciers will have the greatest impact on water
supplies in China, India, and rest of Asia. 9
These stark realities of climate change, combined with the occurrence of high levels
of water loss around the world, make it very clear that there is an urgent need for water
suppliers to reduce the volume of water losses to an optimum in order to be able to
meet demand in a sustainable future.

2.6 What is Being Done Around the World to Reduce Lost Water?
The challenges for us today are the same as they were during the days of the Romans;
we just have more advanced methodologies and technologies to apply to the problem.
We can look back at past efforts and smile and think that we are so much better, but to
be honest we just have better tools. An open mind, unwillingness to accept existing
inefficiencies and a wish to improve are the basic tools a water system operator needs
to have today. The rest can be purchased as work progresses. Water audits and water
loss control programs will only be successful if the operator and his utility are willing
to accept what they find and act on it openly. Therefore it is critical that system opera-
tors understand the extent and impact of water loss, and the control of lost water hold
a priority of paramount importance throughout the entire organization.