AVK sustainability report 2023 with links A4 - Flipbook - Page 18
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. UN SDG 6 is
“Clean water and sanitation for all” but in fact water plays a
crucial role in solving many of the underlying problems that
have led to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Today, we are wasting tomorrow’s water
Water is a scarce resource in many parts of the
world. Yet between 30 and 60% of the treated
water is in many countries wasted on its way to
consumers.
“Water loss is the worst – it’s a waste
of an often-scarce resource, including
the resources – energy, labour and
infrastructure depreciation – used to extract
the water.”
Bjørn Kaare, former President of the
European Water Association.
We use a lot of energy for no reason
When between 30 and 60% of water is
wasted before reaching its destination, the
same amount of energy used for production
and distribution is wasted too. By 2040,
if we continue to operate as we do now,
approximately 79% more energy will be used
for water management compared to 2014.
The reasons for water loss are many, ranging
from leakages, pipe bursts, poor water
management to illegal connections and
unauthorised consumption. Fortunately, so are
the available solutions.
18 | AVK Sustainability report 2022/2023
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 water
waste rates of 7.6% and has placed Denmark
as a front-runner in water technology and
solutions.
As we are already overexploiting our water
sources, and populations are increasing, we
need to apply better management. And what
better way to start than by minimising our
waste of water.
A conservative estimate is that the level of
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is between 30
and 60% in many countries. This means
that between 30 and 60% of the water
pumped into the pipes from the waterworks
is not paid for, either because it is lost due
to leaks or because it is not billed.
A 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 legislating in crucial areas
such as water infrastructure.
