Assessment of water loss level on the example of selected distribution systems

Abstract

One of the major problems of waterworks is the excessive failure of distribution systems and associated water leaks. Water losses in water supply networks and systems are often a very high percentage of water supplied into the network. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis and assessment of water losses should be the basis for undertaking modernisation efforts to reduce the costs associated with water production and distribution. The article presents the analysis of water losses performed on the basis of data provided by the Water Supply and Sewerage Company in Radomsko. The data comprised the information on the water supply infrastructure and quantitative water balance for the period of 2010–2015. Based on the data, the following water loss indices were calculated: the percentage water loss (PWS) or non revenue water (NRW) index, real loss basic (RLB), non revenue water basic index (NRWB), unavoidable annual real losses (UARL) and infrastructure leakage index (ILI). The obtained results demonstrate that due to continuous actions in the recent years the Water Supply and Sewerage Company in Radomsko has reduced the water loss to the levels that correspond to the average water loss on national and international levels.