Unaccounted For Water is the difference between the volume of water entering the distribution system and the volume billed to customers. This implies that any action aiming at reducing UFW will lead to an increase of the volume billed to the end-users, and to a reduction of the losses and leaks in the distribution system. The lower the UFW rate, the more we can consider a system properly managed.

Our experts will help our clients to reduce physical losses (visible leaks on pipes, reservoirs or user connections, underground leaks requiring the use of specialized leak detection equipment) and administrative losses (under-estimation of volume used by customers who do not have a meter, illegal connections, inaccurate metering, billing errors, etc.).

1. India - Improvements in the management of the Calcutta water distribution system

Seureca services covered a 100 km2 area with a population exceding 4 million and consisted of :

• Improve the capacity of Calcutta Municipal Corporation to monitor and operate the system, comprising essentially of full mapping of all zone and reserve pipelines and installing flow and pressure monitoring points
• Install meters for the largest 100 consumers in order to increase badly needed revenue
• In a pilot area, to conduct more detailed investigations and to implement rehabilitation and leakage control measures, thus increasing system performance and revenue collection, and demonstrating procedures that may be applied progressively on a system wide basis.

2. India - Evaluation and reduction of losses and leakages in the water distribution system of the city of Jaipur

The study objectives were to quantify the amount of UFW and develop a strategy for its reduction. To achieve this objective, the following were undertaken :

• Overall water audit and estimate of losses
• Leakage surveys in selected areas of the City on a demonstrable basis to determine UFW and identify the causes and contributory factors for UFW
• Preparation of short term, medium term and long term UFW control and management programs
• Training on site and abroad of the client's personnel
• Identifying and developing management reporting procedures

3. Kenya - Nairobi leakage reduction programme

Seureca provided comprehensive technical assistance to local water authorities for leakage control and for the operation and improvement of the water distribution system:

• digital mapping for GIS,
• hydraulic modelling,
• Non-Revenue Water study and
• audit of operating conditions.

4. Madagascar - Non Revenue Water project for the water supply system in the city of Antananarivo

Seureca helped improve the organization of the leakage detection and customer management departments, and upgrade the water sector division of the JIRAMA.

It provided assistance for the purchase of measuring equipment and leakage detection equipment. 

It carried out a pilot study by installing flow meters, carrying out a measurement campaign of flow/pressure, detecting leakage, and enquiring of customer practices. It then prepared recommendations and an analysis of the water meters renewal policy, as well as assessment of the Technical and Commercial losses.

Finally it trained staff for non revenue water technology.