Page 50 - Water Loss Control

32 Cha pte r F o u r

Throughout the world, the water supply/
demand balance is in jeopardy. In many developing
Many utilities use “pencil”
and some developed countries, some water systems
audits as a way of hiding their do not provide customers a continuous water sup-
real volume of water losses. ply on a 24-hour per day basis, particularly during
This practice reflects a lack of times of drought. Other systems are faced with
a regional or national priority seemingly limited water resources to supply rap-
for water loss control and is idly developing communities. Water utilities in
especially surprising in cases resort communities serve a heavy holiday and tour-
where the same utilities are ist trade, resulting in weekend and holiday peaks
many times higher than normal operating peak
asking their customers to con-
flows. These systems often borrow significant funds
serve water or are planning to
and install costly new water sources that are utilized
tap into new water resources.
only on a part-time basis. The rest of the time the
costly investment sits unused and inefficient. For
systems in these conditions, water loss management offers multiple advantages of cap-
turing treated water volumes now lost to leakage while and recovering additional
needed revenue by managing apparent losses. A successful water loss control program
can defer the cost of loans for capital investments, stretch existing water resources and
improve customer satisfaction; and usually provides a very fast payback.
The first step into the right direction is to assess and acknowledge the problem
followed by dedicating resources and funds to efficiently control water losses. This
chapter explains how water loss is managed in various countries, focusing on the con-
trasting structures in the United States and England and Wales; as well as a number of
other countries who have taken a progressive stance on water loss. Insight is given into
the regulatory structures, standards, and water loss management practices of these
countries.

4.2 Water Loss Management in the United States
The United States is a country truly blessed with bountiful natural resources. Water is a
primary resource that has been consistently developed to help the country grow to the
level of strength and prosperity that it enjoys today. Unfortunately, the availability of
plentiful water during the country’s early history may have contributed to a water sup-
ply infrastructure and American psyche that now tolerates significant water loss. A
general lack of awareness of this fact by the public and many water supply profession-
als is a large part of the problem.
Today the U.S. drinking water industry is facing growing challenges in providing
water supplies necessary to sustain the country’s economic and population growth.
Some of the fastest growing cities in the United States, such as Phoenix and Las Vegas,
are located in semiarid and arid climates. Water resources are limited in these dry areas,
requiring developing and transporting water supplies from very distant sources. The
Colorado River is a critical lifeline of water supply, but often runs dry at its mouth to the
Gulf of California while its waters provide supply to several states which are often at
odds with each other on how best to manage the river while achieving their water sup-
ply goals. 1
The last 20 years have seen water restrictions due to multiyear droughts become
routine in many areas while the development of new sources has become less attractive