The strategic development for water loss prevention

Abstract

The population growth and urbanization have gained importance in the Water Resource Management (WRM) works. The classic approach in relation to the development of the water resources has lost its sustainability. Water has, therefore, become an important, but also becoming a scarce natural source due to the global warming and its climate change impacts end results. The major aim of WRM is to increase the Water Distribution Network (WDN) to keep water supply sustenance by decreasing the water demand. The new approaches in relation to the WRM should take into consideration in a more refined manner the supply–demand balance with the improvements in the WDN. Recently, water resources performance improvements have become one of the significant investment topics in Turkey. However, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and any academic research in this field have shown that there is a water loss of around 50% in the current water supply and distribution systems. In comparison to other developed countries, this loss is very high. It became, therefore, necessary that each Water Resources Administration should keep track on the costs, water leakage losses and the necessary technological investments. In the scope of this study, water loss levels reduction strategy possibilities are developed in the Sakarya City WDM system, Turkey. These strategies field applications have been presented in detail. Finally, the extent of accuracy in these strategies has been shown, which may provide guidance for other water administrations departments in the world.