Non-Revenue Water Management
$5500.00
Non-Revenue Water Management - 5-Day Intensive Training Course
Course Overview
This Non-Revenue Water (NRW) management certification program provides water utility professionals with comprehensive strategies to combat water losses and optimize revenue recovery. With global NRW averaging 30-50% in developing nations and costing utilities over $14 billion annually, this course delivers practical solutions for sustainable water utility operations and financial viability.
Target Participants
Water utility managers and directors
Distribution network engineers
Operations and maintenance teams
Municipal water authorities
Infrastructure asset managers
Water consultants and auditors
Utility financial planners
Engineering procurement contractors
Day 1: NRW Fundamentals and Assessment Framework
Morning Session: The Business Case for NRW Management
Understanding Revenue Loss Impact
Non-Revenue Water represents the difference between water produced and water billed to customers. Beyond direct revenue loss, NRW indicates:
Financial hemorrhaging - Lost treatment costs, pumping energy, chemical expenses, and operational labor with zero return on investment.
Environmental waste - Energy consumption for producing water that never generates value, increasing carbon footprint unnecessarily.
Infrastructure degradation signals - High NRW reflects aging assets, poor maintenance, and deferred investment consequences.
Service quality compromise - Water losses often correlate with supply intermittency, low pressure, and contamination risks.
Afternoon Session: IWA Water Balance Methodology
Standard Water Balance Components
The International Water Association (IWA) framework divides system input volume into:
Authorized Consumption:
Billed authorized consumption (metered and unmetered)
Unbilled authorized consumption (fire services, municipal uses)
Water Losses:
Apparent losses - Customer meter errors, unauthorized consumption, data handling inaccuracies
Real losses - Leakage from transmission mains, distribution pipes, service connections, storage tanks
Hands-On Workshop:
Participants construct complete water balances using actual utility data, identifying NRW components and calculating performance indicators including:
NRW percentage and volume
Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI)
Real loss volume estimation
Apparent loss quantification
Day 2: Real Loss Management Strategies
Morning Session: Leakage Assessment and Quantification
District Metered Area (DMA) Design
Creating effective DMAs forms the cornerstone of modern NRW management. Optimal DMA characteristics include:
Size considerations - 500-3,000 connections providing manageable monitoring zones
Hydraulic isolation - Single inlet with boundary valve closure capability
Pressure uniformity - Minimizing elevation variations within zones
Metering infrastructure - Bulk meters with data logging and telemetry
Minimum Night Flow Analysis
This proven technique exploits consumption patterns:
Between 2:00-4:00 AM, when legitimate use drops to 5-10% of average daily flow, measured flow primarily represents leakage. Participants learn step-by-step MNF analysis:
Install calibrated bulk meters at DMA inlets
Record hourly flow data for 7+ days
Identify minimum flow period
Subtract legitimate night consumption
Calculate leakage component
Establish performance baselines
Afternoon Session: Active Leakage Control Programs
Leak Detection Technology Suite
Acoustic methods:
Listening sticks - Manual survey tools for exposed fittings
Ground microphones - Detecting leak sounds through pavement
Leak noise correlators - Triangulating exact leak positions between access points
Acoustic data loggers - Automated permanent monitoring systems
Advanced technologies:
Satellite leak detection - Synthetic aperture radar identifying soil moisture anomalies
Inline inspection tools - Internal pipe assessment for condition monitoring
Smart ball technology - Free-swimming acoustic sensors mapping leaks
Pressure transient analysis - Hydraulic modeling identifying leak signatures
Speed and Fix Methodology:
Best practices demonstrate that rapid leak repair within 24-48 hours of detection prevents escalation from small leaks to catastrophic bursts, delivering 300-400% ROI on leak detection investments.
Day 3: Pressure Management Excellence
Morning Session: Pressure-Leakage Relationships
Hydraulic Principles and FAVAD Theory
Research confirms exponential relationships between pressure and leakage rates. The Fixed and Variable Area Discharge (FAVAD) equation demonstrates:
10% pressure reduction = 7-8% leakage decrease
30% pressure reduction = 20-25% leakage decrease
50% pressure reduction = 35-40% leakage decrease
Additional Pressure Management Benefits:
Reduced pipe burst frequency (40-50% reduction typical)
Extended infrastructure lifespan (5-15 years)
Decreased customer-side leakage
Lower pumping energy costs (15-30% reduction)
Improved water quality through reduced contamination ingress
Afternoon Session: Pressure Reducing Valve Implementation
PRV System Design and Optimization
Valve types and applications:
Fixed outlet PRVs - Maintaining constant downstream pressure suitable for stable demand patterns
Time-modulated control - Adjusting pressure following diurnal demand curves, lowering pressure during low-consumption periods
Flow-modulated PRVs - Real-time pressure adjustment responding to instantaneous demand, delivering maximum leakage reduction
Remote real-time control - SCADA-integrated systems with cloud-based optimization algorithms
Hydraulic Modeling Exercise:
Using WaterGEMS or EPANET software, participants design pressure management zones, simulate leakage reduction scenarios, and optimize valve placement for maximum benefit without compromising service standards.
Day 4: Apparent Loss Reduction and Revenue Protection
Morning Session: Meter Management Programs
Understanding Meter Under-Registration
Customer meters typically under-register by 2-8% due to:
Mechanical wear from sediment and scale
Low-flow consumption below meter start rates
Aging causing accuracy degradation
Incorrect meter sizing for consumption patterns
Tampering and bypass installations
Cost-Effective Meter Replacement Strategy:
Testing protocols - Statistical sampling determining fleet accuracy
Replacement triggers - Age-based (8-15 years), accuracy-based (±2%), or failure-based criteria
Technology selection - Mechanical vs. ultrasonic vs. electromagnetic meters
AMI deployment - Advanced Metering Infrastructure enabling hourly data collection, leak alerts, and consumption analytics
Business Case Analysis:
Participants calculate meter replacement ROI using utility-specific tariffs, consumption profiles, and accuracy degradation curves, typically demonstrating payback periods of 3-7 years.
Afternoon Session: Commercial Loss Reduction
Unauthorized Consumption Combat Strategies
Water theft represents 5-20% of NRW in many utilities. Effective detection methods include:
Field reconnaissance - Systematic property inspections identifying illegal connections
Consumption analysis - Statistical algorithms flagging zero-consumption properties with occupancy indicators
Database reconciliation - GIS-based customer mapping revealing unregistered connections
Community incentive programs - Reporting rewards and amnesty regularization campaigns
Billing and Data Management Improvements:
Customer database cleansing and validation
GIS integration ensuring spatial accuracy
Automated exception reporting systems
Estimated billing minimization
Tariff structure optimization
Collection efficiency enhancement
Day 5: NRW Reduction Program Implementation
Morning Session: Strategic Planning and Economic Optimization
Developing Bankable NRW Business Plans
Baseline establishment:
Current NRW level quantification (past 3-5 years)
Component breakdown (real vs. apparent losses)
Cost analysis (production costs per cubic meter)
Revenue loss calculation (tariff × NRW volume)
Infrastructure condition assessment
Target Setting and Economic Level of Leakage:
Not all leakage should be eliminated. The Economic Level of Leakage (ELL) represents the optimal point where marginal intervention costs equal marginal benefits. Factors influencing ELL include:
Water scarcity conditions
Production and treatment costs
Labor and equipment expenses
Financing costs and discount rates
Infrastructure age and condition
Intervention Prioritization Matrix:
Ranking activities by cost-effectiveness using benefit-cost ratios, internal rates of return, and payback periods.
Afternoon Session: Performance Monitoring and Sustainability
Implementation Roadmap Development
Quick wins (0-6 months):
DMA establishment in high-loss areas
Intensive leak detection campaigns
Meter accuracy audits
Pressure management pilots
Illegal connection crackdowns
Medium-term interventions (6-24 months):
Complete DMA network rollout
Permanent leak detection infrastructure
PRV system expansion
Meter replacement acceleration
Staff capacity building
Long-term transformation (2-5 years):
Systematic pipe rehabilitation programs
AMI full deployment
Asset management systems
Sustainable financing mechanisms
Organizational restructuring
KPI Dashboard Creation:
Establishing performance monitoring frameworks tracking:
Monthly NRW trends (percentage, volume, ILI)
DMA leakage performance rankings
Leak repair response times (detection to repair completion)
Active leakage control cost-efficiency
Pressure management effectiveness
Meter accuracy maintenance rates
Revenue recovery improvements
Sustainability Mechanisms:
Creating institutional capacity through training programs, performance-based compensation, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement cultures ensuring long-term NRW reduction sustainability.
Course Deliverables
Participants receive:
Comprehensive training manual with templates
Water balance calculation tools
NRW reduction planning software
Case study compilation
Professional certification
Alumni network access
Certification
Graduates earn SciTcc NRW Management Specialist credentials, internationally recognized for demonstrating expertise in water loss control and utility operational excellence.
Keywords: non-revenue water course, NRW management training, water loss reduction, utility revenue optimization, leak detection certification, pressure management training, water meter management, DMA implementation, IWA water balance, apparent loss control, real loss management, water utility efficiency
