AVK CSR 2023-24 web - Flipbook - Page 22
WATER LOSS: PROBABLY
THE MOST CRITICAL
RESOURCE CHALLENGE OF
OUR TIME
Water has a significant impact on health, quality of life,
energy consumption, and on our climate. “Clean water
and sanitation for all” is UN SDG 6 which emphasises that
water is a vital resource. In fact, water plays a crucial role in
solving many of the underlying problems that have led to all
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Today, we are wasting tomorrow’s water
Water is a scarce resource in many parts of the
world. Yet, in some countries, between 30 and
60% of the treated water is wasted on its way
to consumers. When up to 60% of the treated
water is wasted before reaching its destination,
the same amount of energy used for production
and distribution is wasted too. By 2040,
approximately 79% more energy will be used
for water management compared to 2014 if we
continue to operate as we do now.
Non-revenue water (NRW) is produced,
cleaned water lost somewhere in the water
distribution system, never reaching its
destination. This means water not used or
paid for, affecting local economies as well
as local resources available and wasted
energy for pumping water.
The reasons for water loss are many, ranging
from leakages, pipe bursts, poor water
management to illegal connections and
unauthorised consumption. Likewise, many
solutions are available.
The technologies are there – we just need
the initiative
In Denmark, legislation does not allow a water
loss rate of more than 10%. Over time, this has
resulted in one of the world’s lowest average
water waste rates of 7.8% and has placed
22 | AVK Sustainability report 2023/2024
Denmark as a front-runner in water technology
and solutions.
As water sources are already overexploited and
populations are increasing, we need to apply
better management. And what better way to
start than by minimising our waste of water.
The revised EU Drinking Water Directive,
which addresses water loss, drinking water
quality, and infrastructure risk assessment
requirements, gives hope that more decision
makers will see the positive effects of
legislation in crucial areas such as water
infrastructure.
A conservative estimate is that the level
of NRW is between 30 and 60% in some
countries. This means that between 30 and
60% of the water pumped into the pipes
from the waterworks is not billed, either
because it is lost due to leaks or because of
unauthorised consumption.
