Stavroula Tsitsifli

A new set of water losses-related performance indicators focused on areas facing water scarcity conditions

Abstract As almost all Mediterranean countries are facing water scarcity problems today, water losses in drinking water supply networks have grown to an urgent problem, needing immediate confrontation, representing a too valuable to be neglected water potential. The first step towards water losses reduction is the water supply network performance assessment process. The most commonly used methodology is the one introduced by the International Water Association (IWA), including the International Standard Water Balance and a list of Performance Indicators (PIs). Five years after the second PIs handbook edition was launched increasing the PIs included to 170 from 133 of the first edition, there is a need to re-evaluate them, including also new PIs adapted/focused to regional conditions and addressing other important topics such as environmental issues. The paper presents a new set of water losses-related PIs, focused on areas facing water scarcity conditions met in the Mediterranean countries, forming a soli...

Erratum to: Water Pipe Networks Performance Assessment: Benchmarking Eight Cases Across the EU Mediterranean Basin

The high level of the non-revenue water (NRW: water not generating revenues) is a well-acknowledged problem water utilities are straggling with in areas facing water scarcity. High NRW values jeopardize the sustainability of water utilities, especially in cases, where these values exceed 50 % of the System Input Volume. WATERLOSS project developed a Decision Support System to help water utility managers design the most effective/efficient NRW reduction strategy. The project’s first step was to evaluate the performance of the water distribution systems selected as case studies. The paper presents the respective results of eight cases from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France and Spain, based on a modified International Water Association Water Balance adapted to the water pricing practices met across the Mediterranean (high Fixed Charge included in the water tariffs). The results revealed that although almost all cases experience high NRW levels, the high Fixed Charge reduces the actual revenue losses, thus providing a perfect excuse to the managers of the local water utilities do almost nothing to address the actual extent of the NRW problem in their systems.

River basin management plans developed in Greece, based on the WFD 2000/60/EC guidelines

AbstractThe Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) sets an overall framework for water management in Europe. The main instrument for its implementation is the river basin management plan (RBMP) and the accompanying programme of measures. As we are almost in the end of the WFD implementation cycle (in 2015), the paper presents the progress regarding the RBMPs developed by each EU27 member state (MS). A review of the conformity checks regarding the obligation and the quality of the RBMPs is provided for all EU27 MS. Special focus is given to Greece attempting a comparative analysis of its RBMPs. Although they comply with the context requirements set by the WFD, there have been problems occurring as consequences intense disputes. Special focus is given in the economic assessment. Different methodologies used and the lack of data are the main problems identified.

Basic Principles of a DSS Tool Developed to Prioritize NRW Reduction Measures in Water Pipe Networks

Non-revenue water (NRW) in urban water distribution networks is a very demanding task to handle. NRW impacts are economic (lost revenues), environmental (water and energy losses) and social (inefficient water pricing policies not based on the actual water consumption profile/patterns). To deal with NRW, water utilities turn to water audit tools and water loss control methods. In this context, WATERLOSS project (2G-MED09-445) designed a Decision support system (DSS) tool to help water utilities reduce NRW, applying the most cost effective NRW reduction measure(s). The present paper presents the architecture of the DSS tool developed to classify and evaluate NRW control methods available (conventional and proposed ones). The DSS platform includes the DSS tool, which: (a) proposes a list of prioritized NRW reduction measures; (b) evaluates the network’s performance variables and indicators; (c) compares and benchmarks water distribution networks performances; (d) manages the registry of NRW reduction measures; and (e) induces the measures prioritized for any specific system.

Urban water services public infrastructure projects: Turning the high level of the NRW into an attractive financing opportunity using the PBSC tool

Abstract Today, the public sector worldwide is facing many difficulties in financing several public infrastructure projects. Therefore, the public-private partnerships (PPPs) became a very popular project-providing-tool. One of the sectors where this tool is being rapidly expanding today is the environmental sector. This sector is very important for the public health and the protection of the environment (especially projects concerning water supply, sanitation and solid waste management). Such projects are being implemented through PPPs all over the world. These projects have to do with the reduction of the non revenue water (NRW) and the provision of better services regarding water supply and sanitation. The present paper is a discussion paper about successful and not successful examples of PPPs implementation in the environmental sector. After introducing the basic principals of PPP projects, several problems concerning their implementation are discussed in this paper. Although the PPPs are implemented ...

Water resources vulnerability assessment in the Adriatic Sea region: the case of Corfu Island

Cross-border water resources management and protection is a complicated task to achieve, lacking a common methodological framework. Especially in the Adriatic region, water used for drinking water supply purposes pass from many different countries, turning its management into a hard task to achieve. During the DRINKADRIA project, a common methodological framework has been developed, for efficient and effective cross-border water supply and resources management, taking into consideration different resources types (surface and groundwater) emphasizing in drinking water supply intake. The common methodology for water resources management is based on four pillars: climate characteristics and climate change, water resources availability, quality, and security. The present paper assesses both present and future vulnerability of water resources in the Adriatic region, with special focus on Corfu Island, Greece. The results showed that climate change is expected to impact negatively on water resources availability while at the same time, water demand is expected to increase. Water quality problems will be intensified especially due to land use changes and salt water intrusion. The analysis identified areas where water resources are more vulnerable, allowing decision makers develop management strategies.

Socially fair domestic water pricing: who is going to pay for the non-revenue water?

AbstractTo plan and develop a socially fair water pricing policy is a difficult task to do since many factors need to be taken into consideration. Usually, a significant part of a water tariff structure is the fixed charge that should be associated to the opportunity cost the consumers have to pay. In many cases though, it is set just to balance the water utility’s revenues and expenses. This weird billing practice results in the underestimation of the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and in the minimization of water use efficiency. The application of the IWA Standard International Water Balance 2nd modification and its element, the Minimum Charge Difference (MCD) can reveal how big this “underestimation” is. MCD represents the water volume that although not consumed, generates revenues to the water utility. Another element towards a socially fair pricing policy is the allocation of the NRW-related cost. In every water network, two main water users are identified: the actual water consumers and the network itself ...

Overview of the River Basin Management Plans Developed in Greece Under the Context of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC Focusing on the Economic Analysis

The most important piece of legislation towards integrated water management in Europe is the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) based on the river basin. During its implementation each Member State (MS) should prepare a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) accompanied with the Programme of Measures (PoMs) aiming at achieving good quality for all water bodies. The paper aims at presenting a summary of the progress regarding the RBMPs developed by each EU27 MS and special focus is given in Greece. The paper attempts a comparative analysis of the 12 Greek RBMPs highlighting the problems occurred and the drawbacks identified. Special focus is given in the economic analysis assessment where different methodologies are used to estimate the full water cost. Finally suggestions are given that can be taken into consideration during the second WFD implementation cycle in Greece.

Defining the level of the Non-Revenue Water in Kozani, Greece: is it a typical case?

AbstractWater Losses in pipe networks usually represent the biggest “water use” due to the high leakage occurring. Water utilities are forced to apply effective Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction strategies, as climate change conditions put an enormous stress on the water resources reserves. WATERLOSS project attempts to assist towards NRW reduction through developing a decision support system (DSS) that will provide water utility managers with a prioritized list of NRW management/reduction measures. Kozani city water distribution network was one of the pilot cases where the integrated methodology developed within WATERLOSS was applied to. The results revealed that although the specific network experiences high NRW values, the local water utility has not implemented any integrated NRW reduction strategy so far. The reason for that could be the use of the fixed charge in the water bills, rising up to 70% of the NRW when expressed in equivalent water volume. Similar studies in Greece and the results of WATER...

WATERLOSS project: developing from theory to practice an integrated approach towards NRW reduction in urban water systems

AbstractToday almost all Mediterranean countries are facing significant water scarcity problems; therefore, water losses in drinking water supply networks have grown to an urgent problem, requiring the implementation of immediate measures to address them. WATERLOSS project developed an integrated methodology to efficiently address the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) problem. The methodology consisted of the evaluation of the water distribution systems using the second modified Water Balance methodology and the development of a database of Performance Indicators including existing and new ones. NRW reduction measures were developed tackling each NRW component. All components were integrated in a decision support system (DSS) where the user can enter the desired variable values and through a decision tree, the DSS tool, a list of prioritized NRW reduction measures is deduced. The performance of the DSS tool was justified by its implementation in selected pilot cases. Overall, a rational and cost efficient strategy ...