International Report: Water losses management and techniques

Since the 1991 IWSA International Report on “Unaccounted for Water and the Economics of Leak Detection”, the topic of management of water losses in distribution systems has received increased attention. This International Report seeks to present an overview of the “state of the art” in management of Water Losses, based on the Reports prepared by National Rapporteurs, the recent recommendations of the IWA Task Forces on Water Losses and Performance Measures, and improved concepts for modelling components of leakage and pressure: leakage relationships. The IWA Task Force recommendations provide overdue clarification and guidance on several issues that have caused persistent problems in quantifying Water Losses and comparing the effectiveness of their management. It is hoped that this Report will assist in the promotion of a more standardised international approach to the definition, assessment, monitoring and management of Non-Revenue Water and Water Losses.