According to a 2000 United States Geological survey estimate, 6 billion gallons of municipal drinking water are lost in the United States each day. In addition, an estimated 30% of all water produced worldwide is leaking from the underground pipe network. (http://tinyurl.com/3zhudmn). That is approximately 8.5 trillion gallons of water globally each year.
With these facts stated, not enough importance is given to the value of regular, professional, leak detection programs. In truth, real comprehensive water loss prevention programs are usually negated or forgone altogether by a convoluted, unproductive, sourcing process here in the U.S.
In municipal owned systems, in the U.S. especially, thorough and productive leak detection programs tend to fall victim to the lowest-bid-per-mile trap. Companies are asked to bid an amount per each mile of leak survey. Often, bidders not even qualified, experienced, or suitably equipped for leak detection are included. Consequently the focus of the survey has to be for the winning bidder to rack up as many miles per day as possible to have a chance of making money. Each year the price per mile typically goes down and the quality of the survey has to suffer. Either that, or the survey company loses money on the project.
So what’s the solution?
With an emphasis on “Best Practices” beginning to permeate private industry, an honest ounce of self-introspection needs to begin taking place in the Public and Municipal sector. Community pressure from taxpayers who see their water rates moving steadily skyward, need to voice approval for a more thorough and permanent approach to conserving resources even if it costs a little more in the short term.
Each of the aforementioned 6 billion gallons of water wasted each day is a representation of lost revenue and a higher cost of water for the taxpayer in real terms. The easiest and “cheapest” is a false economy.
Time to demand better!
We have a real water leak problem, losing 30-60% of the water purchased monthly. we need to know if you can help, how effective are the results,and the cost. we are located in North-East Ms.
With a loss of that magnitude there’s certainly a very high expectation that a leak detection program can be effective. Depending on the volume of leakage, there’s every reason to expect a leak detection and repair program to be cost-effective. Sometimes however, it’s not just about the cost involved but also about the need to conserve water and eliminate/reduce waste.
Is great to see an article relating to water loss in the US. It is such an important subject and I believe that service providers have an important role to play in assisting utilities in reaching their Non-Revenue Water (NRW) targets and eventually ensuring that they are themselves able to be self sufficient in the art of water loss control.