Losses and leakages in drinking water distribution systems

Water, which first enters our lives as a living fluid in a mother's womb, is the first element of the people's basic needs throughout their lifetimes. It is a source of life. In recent years, water resources are diminishing day by day in our country and in the world as result of decrease in rainfall and change in climate due to global warming, and population growth and industrialization, and they are even insufficient in some regions. It is clear that it will become more difficult to deal with water problems in the near future if existing water resources are not used efficiently. The fact that available water consists only 1% of the world's water resources, makes the management of water resources very important. In addition to limited drinking water resources, very-high costs of producing and distributing water in conformity with potable water standards increase the importance of the economical consumption of water and of the studies aiming at reducing water losses in the supply, storage, transmission, distribution and consumption of water. In the current situation, a part of water supplied to municipal water system after its collection, treatment and the completion of its controls, is recorded as loss and leakage. Expenditures made for a considerable amount of water treated to potable water standards go to waste because of the losses and leakages in drinking water networks. Water losses and leakages are a huge loss of cost and workforce. In today's conditions, the mitigation of loss and leakage rates of water supply and sewerage administrations and other related institutions, which is a major threat in terms of water supply and operational financing, is at the top of the issues that need to be addressed for the success of these institutions. On average 36% water loss occurs in drinking water networks and distribution systems in our country. This is a significant rate and it is necessary to focus on it and conduct studies for preventing losses and leakages.