Data shows that in developing countries, about 45 million cubic meters of water are lost every day, with an economic loss of more than $3 billion per year. A World Bank study pointed out that the world is estimated to lose 32 billion cubic meters of physical water each year. Half of this loss occurs in developing countries. If the water loss in developing countries is halved, the saved water can be enough to supply about 90 million people.
In this post:
What are the main components of non-revenue water(NRW)?
What are the causes of non-revenue water?
What are the impacts of non-revenue water?
How do we solve the non-revenue water problem?
How does SABESP reduce non-revenue water?
How did Manila Water reduce the NRW rate?
1. What are the main components of non-revenue water(NRW)?
- Physical losses: Leaks often stem from aging infrastructure. Corroded pipes and defective joints also contribute to a large portion of NRW. These invisible breaks and cracks can secretly siphon off treated water. This makes the water unrecoverable before it reaches consumers.
- Commercial losses: Commercial losses can occur due to metering inaccuracies. Unauthorized connections also contribute to these losses. Clandestine water theft is another factor. These covert activities further exacerbate the NRW conundrum by evading detection. As a result, water goes unaccounted for.
- Apparent losses: Meter inaccuracies can increase NRW by misrepresenting the actual amount of water consumed. These inaccuracies may be caused by technical failures or tampering. These discrepancies, while not physically lost, can still affect the system. They can distort the measurement and accountability of water within it.
2. What are the causes of non-revenue water?
2.1 Network leakage: Decades-old pipes and distribution networks are damaged by wear. They are also affected by leaks and structural degradation. This serious deterioration significantly affects non-revenue water (NRW).
2.2 Illegal water use: Illegal connections, clandestine tapping, and theft within the water network increase NRW. These activities pose challenges to identifying and curbing such illegal practices.
2.3 Metering errors: Inaccurate meter readings distort the actual amount of water consumed. Equipment failures and data processing errors also complicate efforts to mitigate NRW.
2.4 Improper maintenance: Inadequate maintenance increases the vulnerability of existing infrastructure. Delayed repairs increase the risk of leaks and inefficiencies.
3. What are the impacts of non-revenue water?
- Financial impact: NRW places a huge financial burden on water utilities. There are costs associated with procurement, treatment, and distribution. The loss of treated water results in lost revenue.
- Consumer costs: Higher NRW rates often require water tariffs to be raised. This increase compensates for the lost revenue and places a high water bill burden on consumers.
- Environmental impact: NRW has an economic impact. It also causes environmental degradation through unnecessary energy consumption, habitat destruction, and pressure on already strained water resources.
To understand NRW, it is necessary to grasp its multifaceted nature. This includes both physical losses and commercial differences. A holistic understanding is essential to develop and implement strategies to curb this global challenge. It will also ensure the efficient and sustainable use of this precious resource.
4. How do we solve the non-revenue water problem?
A smart water meter is one of the key tools to reduce non-revenue water. It supports remote meter reading, reduces manual meter reading errors, and monitors water meter status and user water consumption in real-time. It can also provide more accurate water metering, real-time monitoring, and remote control, helping water supply companies better manage water resources and user water use. S.H.Meters has been focusing on the independent research and development of smart water meters, supporting multiple remote communication methods such as NB-IoT, LoRa, and GPRS. These technologies can help improve the efficiency of water management and reduce non-revenue water.
4.2 Leakage detection
The use of advanced leak detection technologies (such as acoustic detection and infrared detection) helps to quickly identify and repair leaks in the water supply network. Regular maintenance and proactive repair help minimize physical losses. S.H.Meters is currently developing the latest ultrasonic water meter, which uses ultrasonic technology for water metering and supports leak detection, which can help water supply companies quickly locate and repair pipeline leaks.
4.3 Pipeline network transformation
Upgrading aging infrastructure, replacing corroded or inefficient pipes, and adopting modern materials and technologies can enhance the resilience of the water supply network, reduce leakage rates, and improve system efficiency.
4.4 Digital water services
S.H.Meters is building a water data management ERP system, which is specially designed for the water industry. From water intake to metering to meter management, it integrates various functional modules to optimize the management, scheduling, and service of water resources. This system can not only help water companies achieve digital transformation, but also improve operational efficiency, reduce non-revenue water, and improve customer service levels.
5. How does SABESP reduce non-revenue water?
SABESP (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo) is one of the largest water companies in Brazil and is responsible for water supply and wastewater treatment in most of the state of São Paulo. The non-revenue water rate in some areas of Brazil has been as high as over 30%. Later, through measures such as installing and upgrading smart water meters, optimizing pipe network pressure, and combating illegal water use, the NRW rate was effectively reduced.
6. How did Manila Water reduce the NRW rate?
Manila Water, one of the major water service providers in the Manila area of the Philippines, has faced severe challenges from an old pipe network and a high ratio of non-revenue water. In order to reduce the non-revenue water rate, Manila Water invested in replacing aging pipelines, installed smart water meters and sensors, while optimizing the water pressure of the water supply system, and strengthened the fight against illegal water use and community management, significantly improving the quality and operation of water supply services.
Reducing non-revenue water is of profound importance to water companies, users, and society. Achieving this goal requires an effective combination of comprehensive strategies and innovative technologies, including smart water meters, leakage detection technology, pipe network transformation, and data analysis. All parties should work together to promote technological progress and management optimization to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and the improvement of service quality.