Quantifying Water Loss Components and Conducting Performance Indicator-Based Assessment for Addis Abeba Water Distribution System
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Date
2024-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Water loss in urban water distribution systems is a significant global challenge, leading to wastage,
revenue losses, and contamination risks. The Addis Ababa Water Distribution System (AAWDS)
faces similar challenges, a significant portion of the water supplied to people doesnโt reach its
intended users. Despite the critical importance of mitigating water loss, assessment practices and
understanding of different causes and factors influencing the amount and type of water loss in a
distribution system is limited. This study aims to assess and quantify total water losses in the
AAWDS, and evaluating system performance. The research examines both real and apparent
losses, with a focus on metering accuracy degradation rates and failures, especially in DN 15 mm
customer meters, which constitute a large proportion of utility meters. The study identifies a high
meter failure rate (0.59%/year) in the system, with water losses due to DN 15mm meter failure
estimated at 0.53% of the annual non-revenue water (NRW), equivalent to 470,081๐3 /year. Using
comparative billing analysis methodology, the research determines meter accuracy degradation
rates for different meter models and calculates annual water losses due to meter inaccuracies,
totaling US$1.5 million per year. Additionally, the study adopted two techniques, Minimum Night
Flow Analysis and Calibration Process Water GEMs V10 Calibrator Software, were used to
estimate leakages in district-metered areas situated around Kasanchis area, revealing a daily water
loss 756 ๐3. Leakage identification in the water distribution system of the DMA resulted in
shortlisting of 5 points. The research also proposes 12 performance indicators for evaluating the
system's efficiency, with some successfully tested on a branch utility of AAWSA. The findings
emphasize the need of integrated water meter management (IWMM), leakage detection with
calibrator software, and the utility's use of appropriate water loss performance indicators
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Keywords
Non-Revenue Water, Water loss, Apparent loss, Leakage, District Meter Area, Performance Indicators.