Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Solutions
Improve overall pipeline efficiency by eliminating non-revenue water
What is Non-Revenue Water?
Non-revenue water (NRW) is a term that refers to water that has been treated and is subsequently lost during transmission to the end user or customer. In other words the difference between the amount of water put into the distribution system and the amount of water billed to consumers.
( Water Treated ) – ( Water Billed) = Non-Revenue Water
Losses can be attributed to physical losses such as leaks or apparent losses such as theft or metering inaccuracies.
Financial Implications of Non-Revenue Water
Increased levels of NRW can reflect large volumes of water being lost through leaks distributed across a water transmission pipeline. NRW can have a major impact on the financial viability of a water utility through lost revenue, increased operational costs, and quality concerns.
PPIC inspections have found an average of 1.4 leaks per mile of large diameter pipeline in North American cities. These leaks typically go undetected for longer periods of time, up to 20 years before they surface. There may be a much greater financial and environmental ROI from long-term inspection programs focusing on large diameter distribution mains.
The cost of non-revenue water globally has been estimated at $14 billion U.S. Dollars annually with a third of the NRW located in developing nations. Identifying and solving NRW issues early can lead to big savings over the life time of a water pipeline.
Many utilities look towards increasing billable water by increasing treatment capacity at the plant; however by addressing and eliminating causes of non-revenue water, the overall efficiency of the pipeline can also be increased.
Eliminating Non-Revenue Water
By employing a cost effective maintenance and management plan for pipeline assets, operators can identify and eliminate several causes that lead to non-revenue water.
Leak Detection with Sahara®
The Sahara® pipeline inspection system is a non-destructive, in-line, condition assessment tool that can detect leaks and gas pockets in real-time within a live pipeline. Sahara® can be used on large diameter water transmission mains of all materials without interruption of service, and is also effective on wastewater force mains and siphons.
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Pipeline Condition Assessment
Pipeline condition can be assessed by using Remote Field Transformer Coupling (RFTC) technology which accurately establishes the baseline condition of water pipelines. RFTC provides water and wastewater system operators with information on where a pipeline is showing signs of distress which will eventually lead to leaks and ultimately failure.
Proactive pipeline condition assessment programs are now at the heart of many municipalities long-term maintenance programs – for new and existing lines.
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Contact PPIC
Are you interested in finding sources of non-revenue water in your pipelines? Use our online form to setup a meeting where one of our client managers will guide you through the inspection process.