Reducing Non-Revenue Water

ZAKARIA YEHIA AHMED

Public Works, Civil Engineering, Thebes Academy

Cairo, EGYPT

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3672-2286

Abstract: Non-Revenue water (NRW) refers to water produced and lost before reaching consumers.

The summary focuses on the importance of reducing Non-Revenue water (NRW), as it increases

water availability and the revenues of drinking water. This reduction is achieved when we install the

flow meters and water pressure devices at water sources or inlets and exits of isolated areas. We can

calculate the amount of water supplied to the area, comparing it with the calculated amount and

determining the volume of water not subject to accounting. To solve this, actions like leak detection

to determine the location of hidden connections and installation of effective water meters.

Supervisory Control and Data Access (SCADA) systems have a role in water management,

providing control and real-time monitoring, early problem detection, improved efficiency, and

support decision making. When we use Supervisory Control and Data Access (SCADA) technology,

we can reduce water losses, ensure reliable water supplies, and contribute to city water management

practices.

Reducing inaccurate billing or theft can increase revenue. Also, reducing physical/real losses, like

leakages or inefficient distribution systems, engage water and wastewater companies to postpone

investment in water resource development. To achieve the challenge, cooperation between

departments such as network operations, hydraulic analysis, and geographic information systems is

required. The commercial sector is important to evaluate and identify the different components that

contribute to reducing water loss (NRW).

Keywords: Non-Revenue water - Geographic Information Systems - Smart Cities - Hydraulic

Analysis - Supervisory control and data access systems - Districts Metered Zone), GIS, Hydraulic

Modeling

Received: February 23, 2023. Revised: February 12, 2024. Accepted: March 13, 2024. Published: April 23, 2024.

1. Introduction

The reduction of Non-Revenue Water

(NRW) loss stands as a major challenge in the

water assiduity and encyclopedically, as

minimizing NRW translates to increased water

vacuity and fiscal earnings. One of the major

issues affecting water serviceability in the

developing world is the significant difference

between the quantity of water introduced into

the distribution system and the quantity of

water billed to consumers, it is also called "no-

income water" (NRW) [1]. For illustration,

abridging marketable losses enhances billing

delicacy, a vital source of fresh profit, while

the reduction of Physical/ Real Losses allows

serviceability to postpone necessary capital

investments in water source development

enterprises. As for Governance, it regards the

successful perpetration of the Strategy. It

requires a few ways (1) set up a devoted PWA

Non-Revenue Water Team;( 2) set up systems

and train the Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

Team;( 3) engage the service providers;( 4) set

up NRW Practitioner Team to give the

specialized advice and help to the lower

service providers to apply the Strategy [2].

The importance of reducing Non-Revenue

water (NRW), as it increases water availability

and the revenues of drinking water [3].

Sustainability includes ensuring that sufficient

safes are available for present and unborn

generations. Water that does not generate

revenue (NRW) creates a precaution for

sustainability through loss of energy and

water. However, there is still a need for a

comprehensive view of non-accounting water

reduction strategies [4]. An important problem

is the high status of non-income water (NRW)

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Zakaria Yehia Ahmed

E-ISSN: 2766-9823

Volume 6, 2024

or the difference between the volume of

system input and authorized consumption in

the invoice [5] which, for example, amounts to

42 in Nairobi, incompletely because of illegal

connections and poor conservation of the

systems being constructed further than 40

times agone.

, “Assessing non-revenue water and its

factors, A practical approach”. In India 30 to

60% chance of treated and supplied water is

lost during transmission from water service

force to client service connections [6]. Given

the non-supervisory terrain in which Canadian

water agencies operate, some of these benefits

- particularly those that are external to the

agency or that may return to the agency in

periods not yet generated - may not be fully

accounted for when agencies decide to detect

leakage [7]. Utility Management Specialist

works closely with attachment stakeholders

and helps to maintain an effective pace of

design operations despite the complex,

contemporaneous tasks being in each

governorate [8]. Multiple Indian metropolitan

metropolises face severe water, these

metropolises generally have high non-revenue

water (NRW) situations [9]. In Balkan

countries, half of the water volume is being

lost during the distribution process [10]. The

high level of non-income water in Malaysia

(NRW) reduced the capacity of water service

providers to absorb additional water demands

and caused considerable financial pressure on

their investments in water-related structures as

well as operating expenses. - The intention to

reduce water revenues in Selangor [11].

The Non-Revenue Water (NRW) level

serves as a crucial performance indicator for

efficiency. However, many Water Service

Companies (WSCs) tend to "underestimate"

the actual level of non-potable water due to

inaccurate information, insufficient

knowledge, and institutional or political

pressures. Reporting artificially low NRW

levels can mask genuine issues affecting the

effectiveness of drinking water operations.

Therefore, it is imperative to accurately

quantify and size Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

components to validate the reported Non-

Revenue Water (NRW) level.

Despite reports suggesting a 22% NRW

level, the validity of this low figure is

questionable. The discussions with senior

management, record reviews, and field visits

indicate that reported low NRW levels may

result from intentional misinformation or a

lack of accurate data. An audit of Non-

Revenue Water (NRW) components is

necessary to establish a more "reliable"

standard and detect actual issues impacting the

operational efficiency of WSCs. Collaboration

among network operations, hydraulics, GIS,

and the commercial sector is vital for

estimating and quantifying NRW components.

Many reports put the Non-revenue water

(NRW) at 20%; However, this low level of

non-accountable water is questionable. NRW

level is less than 20% as "good," 20% as

"accepted," and more than 25% as

"unacceptable".

Given that each component has a distinct

impact on the Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

value, and the size of the component varies for

a water utility, conducting an NRW audit is

crucial to ascertain the level of each

component. The non-revenue water (NRW)

has five main components: the volume of

system inputs, authorized consumption billed,

unauthorized consumption,

apparent/commercial losses, and real

(material) losses. Networks are divided into

restricted areas (DMA) or larger areas known

as counter-zones (DMZs).

Current challenges in water management,

including water scarcity, old infrastructure,

increased demand, and the need for efficient

resource allocation, are effectively addressed

through SCADA (supervisory control and

access to data). SCADA plays a central role in

real-time surveillance, control, and automation

of water systems. It solves high levels of water

loss due to leaks and inefficient water

distribution by enabling real-time control of

water flow, pressure for early detection, and

better system management, which reduces

non-income water. Replacement and

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renovation of the old water network are

carried out using SCADA and facilitating

maintenance. In the face of increasing

population, SCADA can improve water

distribution by providing different

consumption patterns. SCADA can provide

careful control of water treatment and

distribution processes, ensuring better resource

allocation and effective operation of water

treatment plants. Also, SCADA solves the

challenges of data management and decision-

making through real-time data collection and

analysis and the provision of good information

to decision-makers. In conclusion, SCADA

solves current water management challenges

by providing real-time data, control, and

automation to enhance the efficiency,

reliability, and sustainability of water systems.

2. Implementation

To operationalize the DMZ and Luxor

Non-Revenue Water (NRW) initiatives, the

collaborative efforts of hydraulic analysis,

operation and maintenance, commercial

management, and GIS will include the

following tasks:

- Conducting the Customer Identification

Survey to pinpoint commercial losses among

customers.

- Deployment of the Leak Detection staff to

install pressure and flow meter sensors for

continuous monitoring of the designated zone.

- Implementation of a mobile application

for the seamless transfer of GIS links

connecting customer meters with the

commercial section.

- Using satellite imagery to identify

physical features within the region.

The DMZ component will include a limited

number of fixed Ultrasonic meters, several

sensors of pressure, and a program for

receiving readings from meters. Additionally,

a monitoring server system, data transfer units,

and a software system (SCADA, Fig. 1) will

be integral components of the initiative.

Fig. 1. SCADA monitor program for pressure and

water flow.

The main Devices are Pressure devices,

Flow meters, RTU (Remote Terminal Unit),

Panels and SIM cards.

The presented diagram (fig. 2) illustrates

the interconnections among different sections,

including the hotline, DMZ (Districts Metered

Zone), GIS, Hydraulic Modeling, Operation

and Maintenance, Leak Detection

departments, and Research and Development.

Fig. 2. Linking different sections.

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The diagram illustrates a network setup

incorporating devices like Pressure sensors

and Flow Meters. These devices are linked to

an RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) or a PLC

(Programmable Logic Controller), and these,

in turn, are connected to a router, fig. 3. On

the server, a router is in place to receive data

from the devices and transmit it to the server

and SCADA program for saving data and

analysis.

Fig. 3. Flow Chart for SCADA devices.

2.1. Methodology

To aid water companies in implementing

DMZ, the methodology will be clarified as

follows:

1. Establish criteria for prioritizing DMZs

and selecting the Governorate.

2. Use of the geographic information

systems mobile telephone application

during field surveys to identify clients

and meter locations. This information

can be combined with hotlines,

commercials, and other sections.

3. Define the ultimate GIS maps and

hydraulic model of DMZs.

4. Generate maps for water stations,

including inlets and outlets of the zone.

5. Conduct field verification to ensure

that GIS maps align with and are

suitable for the as-built conditions.

6. SCADA staff use templates using the

internet to send data.

7. Incorporate satellite images into the

process.

8. Provide training for staff on using the

mobile program and downloading

satellite scenes.

2.2. The Activities

1. Form teams from contributing

departments (such as Network O&M,

NRW, Hydraulic Analysis, GIS and

Commercial).

2. Provide an orientation for the teams on

the program's goals, mission, and

objectives.

3. Choose a pilot zone of the water balance

and GIS mapping based on predefined

criteria.

4. Deliver the training for the contributing

sections.

5. Develop a database of water networks,

GIS, billing, meter readers, and collectors.

6. Update the customer database, integrate

comprehensive data on communications,

clients, and numbers, and integrate the

information collected during field surveys

into an updated map. This includes details

such as connections, water pipeline tracks,

pipeline diameter, materials, customer

names and numbers, consumption

classification (residential, commercial, and

industrial), and meter.

7. Provide technical training for the leak

detection crew, focusing on the use of leak

detection equipment to obtain readings of

flow and pressure measurements.

8. Interference with business losses,

addressing problems such as replacing

defective meters, dealing with illegal

deliveries, updating meter readings, and

dealing with government clients.

9. Map the location of leaks on the GIS

map.

10. Conduct repairs for the identified leaks

with the water network team.

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11. Perform pressure and flow

measurements in the selected area after

repairing the identified leaks in its

network.

12. Analyze both commercial and physical

data.

3. The Results

3.1. Presentation of Charts and Data

1. Clarification of connection status is very

necessary, indicating whether the connection

exists or not.

2. Display signal status from flow meters and

pressure sensors, indicating malfunctions or

lack thereof, or issues with the devices.

3. Inclusion of buttons to directly access

reports and charts.

4. Reprogramming of the program interface to

feature many screens, where feeders of

stations of the branch are plotted on maps

instead of table view only.

3.2. Presentation of Historical Data

1. Display of monitored data for the signals

(call status and warning signals).

2. Saving and linking data to dedicated data

like a MySQL database.

3. Utilization of the displayed monitoring data

as a basis for creating various reports,

conducting analysis, and charts.

3.3. Presentation of Trends in Data

Measured

1. Displaying the changes in values of periods

preceding all signals to illustrate variations in

measured values during previous periods.

2. Analysis of the curve values based on the

duration to be presented to the curve.

3.4. Report Generation

1. Establishment of reports for all signals,

including the status of communications, which

is a key function.

2. Establishment of various types of reports,

including daily reports showing total behavior

and average pressure per hour per day,

monthly reports reflecting overall behavior

and average pressure per day, as well as

annual reports.

Table 1. NRW for District Metered Zones

Table 1 illustrates the decrease in %NRW in

district-metered zones after implementing

SCADA systems from the year 2020 to 2022.

3.5. SCADA Systems

1. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data

Access) systems are useful for water

management in smart cities. The following

points highlight their importance:

2. Real-time surveillance and control: SCADA

systems allow operators to control and control

the various components of the water supply

system in real-time.

3. Early detection of problems: SCADA

systems facilitate early detection of abnormal

cases, such as leaks or malfunctions, allowing

for rapid maintenance.

4. Improved efficiency and improved

resources: SCADA systems provide insights

into water use patterns, helping to improve

distribution and implement demand

management strategies.

5. Enhancing resilience and disaster response:

SCADA systems enhance infrastructure

resilience by providing real-time situational

awareness during emergencies.

6. Data analysis and decision support: SCADA

systems create data for analysis and support

informed decision-making for proactive

maintenance and long-term planning.

The SCADA application should encompass

main functions such as charts, history of data,

Alarms, Reports, Trends, and Security, as

depicted in the following figure (fig. 4).

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Fig. 4. The functions of the application.

4. Conclusion

A study of the western area of the city of Esna

in Luxor governorate was conducted during

April and May 2021 before the meter was

installed, and in 2022 after the meter was

installed, the notes were as follows:

In April 2021, the total water production for

the region of Esna was 2,092,181 m³ (Luxor

Water Company). In April 2022, the

production of total water was 1,956,020 m³

(SCADA program). Notably, there was a

reduction in productivity of approximately 7%

in April.

For May 2021, the total water production in

western Esna was 2,120,272 m³ (Luxor Water

program). In May 2022, the total water

production decreased to 1,834,355 m³

(SCADA system). The reduction in

productivity for May was around 13%.

These findings highlight the percentage

calculation of the losses and non-accountable

water, emphasizing that this calculation can be

more accurate after the installation of the

equipment and improved operation of the

SCADA program compared to calculations

conducted before these measures were

implemented, as in table 2.

Table 2. Results

5. The Recommendations

1. Expanding the operation of SCADA and

DMZ to encompass all fresh governorates. 2.

It’s pivotal to suffer training on SCADA and

device conservation to enhance chops. 3.

Supplying the needful bias, similar to inflow

measures and pressure detectors, to extend the

content of DMZ to all the governorates. 4.

The objectification of artificial intelligence

(AI) is poised to offer enhanced perceptivity in

SCADA network exertion, easing further

effective responses to implicit pitfalls. 5. The

growing application of IoT (Internet of

Effects) bias and detectors within SCADA is

anticipated to induce substantial quantities of

data, which can be anatomized with advanced

data.

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Zakaria Yehia Ahmed

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Volume 6, 2024

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Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a

Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself

No funding was received for conducting this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare

that are relevant to the content of this article.

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS,

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

DOI: 10.37394/232026.2024.6.3

Zakaria Yehia Ahmed

E-ISSN: 2766-9823

Volume 6, 2024