By Satish Saini, HEXstream utilities industry specialist 

Part II

In the first part of this series, we explored our aging water-supply infrastructure and how the slow adoption of modern measurement/monitoring/automation technologies in water flow analytics is harming system performance while creating water losses that result in missed sustainability/profitability targets for utilities.

In this part, we dive deeper into the types of losses related to non-revenue water (NRW).

Water losses are defined in two categories: real/physical losses due primarily to leaks in the physical infrastructure (pipes, valves, etc.); and apparent losses that include unauthorized consumption (theft, illegal connections), meter inaccuracies, and administrative errors. 

The following diagram illustrates the types of water and losses:  

According to the American Water Works Association, revenue losses from non-revenue water for some US companies can exceed 25%. An International Water Association study notes that the global volume of NRW is at 126 billion cubic meters per year. And World Bank reports that the estimated value of NRW is massive (and rising), averaging $5.30 billion/cubic meter for developed countries and $5.80 billion/cubic meter for developing countries.

Hardly a drop in the bucket.         

These huge losses are spurring the adoption and deployment of digitalization and automation technologies to measure and monitor water flow. Consider HEXstream's T&D loss-detection offerings, for example.

This is a good thing. Even better is that many of these efforts are empowered with artificial intelligence and smart, data-driven analytics, which boosts accuracy while limiting the need for utility personnel to perform this work. (They can focus on more strategic projects.)

The end result is smarter methods for efficient distribution and enhanced revenue recovery.

Of course, these initiatives should—ideally—coincide with infrastructure upgrades. Accurate databases of assets that are central to data-driven strategies benefit those upgrade plans, enabling municipalities a full view of what they currently have and a clearer picture of what they need to limit non-revenue water and build their distribution network of the future.

Interested? Click here to speak with HEXstream about implementing these smart strategies at your utility.