Page 30 - Water Loss Control

12 Cha pte r T w o

Due to a number of dramatic late twentieth-century changes in the water supply
business model worldwide, a new breed of water utility manager has entered the water
supply scene. One who strives to increase the performance of the utility, increase prof-
its, and yet be accountable for the efficient use of one of nature’s most precious resources,
water! The need for this new breed of water system operator has come about by pres-
sure from a number of stakeholder groups who no longer tolerate abuse and inefficient
use of natural water resources. These include the environmental community, which has
been successful in raising grass-roots consciousness to the level of environmental regu-
lation at the national and international level. Con-
sumer advocates now carefully monitor the value of
service per unit cost paid by the customer, expect-
Water system operators ing the utility to provide quality service at reason-
are now under pressure from able cost. Competitive forces have also increased,
various stakeholder groups to focusing utilities on improving both technical and
operate systems more effi- business efficiency. The power of the internet,
ciently, reduce losses, and media, and other communication forums has helped
improve performance. to accelerate all of these forces, which are mandat-
ing that water loss not be tolerated or overlooked as
it has been in the past.
A new model of water loss management was developed, taking root in England and
quickly spreading to a number of other nations. The National Leakage Initiative was an
extensive research endeavor carried-out by British and Welsh water companies in the
early 1990s. Its results formed the basis for the development of a progressive leakage
management structure that arguably now exists as the world’s best practice model. The
crux of this structure is basic applied engineering, stressing a proactive approach toward
eliminating and preventing leakage, and contrasting dramatically with the largely reac-
tive modes existing in most water systems worldwide. In less than 10 years, this struc-
ture has been successful in eliminating up to 85% of all recoverable leakage in England
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and Wales. Proactive water loss management based on the model developed in the
United Kingdom has been promoted and applied in many places around the world and
it has proven to be an easily transferable technology for nations around the globe. Now-
adays, more than ever, it is evident that the world’s water suppliers not only have a
need to reduce and proactively manage their losses, but also have the methods and
technology to do so effectively.
The successful structure established in England and Wales was implemented in a
relatively short period of time and was driven by a number of the forces mentioned
above. British water companies were privatized and reorganized along watershed
boundaries in 1989. They also fell under a heavy regulatory structure at that time; a
structure that focused upon effectiveness and impact of company operations and cost
to the customer. The ability for water companies to pass costs along to customers is
greatly limited by this structure, which ties approvals to increase rates or tariffs to per-
formance of the company. Consequently, innovative was accelerated as the companies
sought ways to improve performance, cut costs, and increase profits. Environmental
concerns and the relatively high density of the population also have elevated support
for the wise use of water in the United Kingdom. A notable catalyst in the mid-1990s
was the severe drought that hit the country. This event triggered the establishment of
new leakage reduction requirements and targets, which the companies where able to
implement, having the results of the National Leakage Initiative to guide them. While