To combat non-revenue water and leakages the Water Research Commission launched its Water Loss and Reduction Tools, these tools are based on evidence and data and speak to a real need of addressing leaks within the South African water system.

The facts are that in South Africa nearly 50% of our total water output is non-revenue or lost. The sheer scale of water loss means that there is an increased delay in responding to water losses which creates a vicious cycle of losing water and being unable to stop the losses. These delays necessitate real-time responses which can be achieved by utilising AI machine learning. Detecting patterns within large data sets can reveal surprising information that people may not be able to see.

One of the best markers of water usage is the litre per capita, which is used to assess both the access to water as well as water consumption.

According to the World Health Organisation, the basic and necessary water use per capita is 50-100 litres per person per day. This is the benchmark for water as a human right and not a prescribed limit, the averages per country vary but South Africa sits at a very high 266 litres per capita per day.

This is alarming considering we are a water-scarce country, but more presciently this number includes the water losses of the country. According to the most recent data South Africa’s water system suffers a 50% loss of water: water that is unbilled but paid for.

This speaks to the urgent need for robust leak-detection software. Jay Bhagwan, executive manager of water use and waste management for the WRC, says, “Leaks represent a threat to the entire system when we consider the astronomical losses we face. Stopping unnecessary non-revenue water starts with leak detection and prevention.”

The WRC responds to a need

The need for better leakage monitoring and solutions is clear, the WRC has responded to this need by updating its models, providing tools and training, and utilising digital opportunities which are all available on the new WRC’s non-revenue water portal.

The WRC have a number of different software solutions available for the water sector. In the case of leak detection and prevention, there are four programmes that the WRC have that are used for effective leakage control. Each programme is based on the internationally accepted Burst and Background Estimates (BABE).

• Sanflow – is the programme that measures minimum night flows. This is a vital part of leak detection, especially in background and household leaks.
• Premasc – This is a pressure management programme that acts as a short-term solution to leaks. Lower pressure means less leakage and pressure management is a huge player in mitigating the problems of background leaks while bigger and longer-term solutions are being created.
• Econoleak – designs active leakage control, which is a long-term solution and the end goal of detecting and monitoring leakages.
• Benchleak – A brand new programme of water auditing, This programme allows for benchmarking across multiple zones including personal, regional and national.

The WRC also has an NRW scorecard that shows where WSA’s sit within the system to help them compare and manage their own leak control strategies.

A new portal opens the path

In keeping with the WRC’s commitment to digital and fourth industrial revolution approaches to water, they have launched the South African Non-Revenue Water Management Portal (SANRWP) which is according to Jay, “a one-stop shop for municipalities and other practitioners looking for guidance on managing NRW.” The portal packages the existing advisory packages, solutions, guidelines, reports, innovations, technologies, and emerging technologies related to NRW into one platform.

This portal highlights the move toward digital, even in ‘traditional sectors’. The portal offers some unique opportunities in the face of the barriers the sector experiences such as:

• Predictive maintenance
• Date integration
• Encourage pubic participation
• Using data for a wide range of solutions (expanding the use of data)
• Data-backed and enhanced decision making
• Better feedback
• Future-proofing.

This move to digital coincides with the WRC and DWS urging the use of smart water solutions which can:

• Reduce per capita consumption by up to 10%
• Reduce leakages by 20%
• Reduced billing
• Diminished costs in maintenance, repairs and energy
• Manage pressure and consumption
• Predict potential failures.