This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Kenya loses up to 430 million litres of water annually due to leaks, theft, or meter abuse, resulting in revenue losses worth Ksh 12.2 billion, according to a 2018 report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Davis & Shirtliff, a leading water management company, has attributed the low water distribution efficiency in the country to a lack of best practice application and good operating practices. The firm is now calling on the government to enact legislation on the use of technology in water distribution systems to curb these revenue losses.
"Incorporating technology with proper management practices in water distribution will increase the proportions of new leaks reported as well as the level of undetectable small leakages," said David Gatende, Chief Executive Officer of Davis & Shirtliff.
Mr. Gatende emphasized that technology will increase the speed at which the locations of leaks are identified and help in the collection of data for analysis. He also attributed the high losses incurred in relation to non-revenue water to insufficient training on the part of those working in water utility companies as well as a lack in emphasis on preventive maintenance.
Implementing pressure management methods, such as Demand Driven Distribution (DDD), can help mitigate the effects of non-revenue water on water distribution systems. DDD regulates the systems such that water pressure is only high during specific times of the day when consumers are in need of the commodity.
"Demand Driven Distribution will regulate the systems such that water pressure is only high during specific times of the day when consumers are in need of the commodity. When the demand for water is minimal, the system will regulate the pressure in the distribution system to deter the occurrence of leaks," Mr. Gatende explained.
