Leakage Control Policy within Operating Management Tools

Despite the growing concern of water companies throughout the world to have available water resources, which is strongly related to leakage control is not always properly considered within water management companies. Nowadays, the continuous monitoring of water distribution systems is a prerequisite towards the rapid and efficient detection of any abnormal situation. Within European Union priorities, the problematic of available water sources have paid attention through the development of an integrated policy to reduce and control leakage, as well as to encourage water companies to implement it. A briefly overview of international water framework conciliating water losses and users needs is presented, as well as the main management plans for a better leakage control in water systems. Since leaks are conceptually orifices, the importance of water losses and costs quantification and the benefit of a monitoring system installation are enhanced. Finally, it is presented a practical implementation by a water company in a controlled zone where is showed the type of developed analysis, the need of having an up-to-date database, which operating system and rules must be implemented in order to avoid damages.