White Papers

White Papers & Reports

LEI White Paper v4.3

Issues in Implementation of EU Regulations in Terms of Evaluation of Water Losses: Towards Energy Efficiency Optimization in Water Supply Systems

Key Performance Indicators Frameworks in Wareg Member Countries

This Report was prepared by Mr. Ivaylo Kastchiev, WAREG vice-president, Water and Sanitation Services director in Energy and Water Regulatory Commission of Bulgaria, as Chair of the WAREG Working Group, with active support by WAREG Secretariat and Members

EU Reference document Good Practices on Leakage Management WFD CIS WG PoM – Main Report

This EU Reference document is intended to help guide policies that improve efficient water use by utilities throughout the EU. This reference document only focuses on leakage reduction in drinking water distribution systems and does not cover irrigation systems or water distribution systems for recreational activities such as sports facilities (golf courses, football fields etc.) or urban landscaping.

EU Reference document Good Practices on Leakage Management WFD CIS WG PoM – Case Study document

These good practices document focuses on leakage management and describes the consolidated findings and analysis of sixteen case studies on leakage and resource efficiency of water utilities across the EU and presents conclusions and recommendations (including examples) on how these findings could be used to inform the development of a policy to improve efficiency in the use of water resources by water utilities.

IWA WLSG DMA Guidance Notes 2024

These Guidance Notes on DMA establishment and management describe in a simple and practical way the methodologies which have been practised for many years around the world with excellent results, including relevant case studies.

IWA WLSG Leakage Detection and Repair Guidance Notes

These Guidance Notes on Leakage Detection and Repair is aimed at staff with little or no experience in leak detection and location techniques and practices. It has drawn on the experience of international leakage experts to pull together the key best practice essentials and to outline the technical understanding behind this vital activity.

IWA WLSG Position Statement on the “Use of the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) in EU Directives and Regulations”

This Position Statement outlines the key issues associated with the use of the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) for benchmarking performance as set out in the Directive (EU) 020/2184 and the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act referenced below. The WLSG considers that clarification is needed on several points, to avoid the Directive and Taxonomy Act being interpreted as a requirement to set targets for water loss in terms of ILI with the threshold reference levels proposed therein; particularly regarding existing networks.

Comments on the EurEau Proposal for a Harmonised Leakage Reporting Index

This paper sets out a preliminary response of the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group (WLSG) to the Proposal from EurEau dated November 2023 for a Harmonised Leakage Reporting Index in EU Member States

Proposed Routemap for a Harmonised Leakage Reporting Index for use by EU Member States

 This paper sets out a proposal from the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group (WLSG) for a Routemap towards the use of ILI for reporting performance on active leakage management across EU member states for use with the Water Framework Directive.

Quantifying the Global Non-Revenue Water Problem

This paper provides a long overdue update on the global non-revenue water (NRW) estimates, initially published in a World Bank publication (Kingdom et al., 2006) more than 10 years ago. The authors use a similar approach based on latest data to estimate volumes of water lost by water utilities around the world. The conclusion of this study is that the 2006 estimates were extremely conservative and that realistic NRW estimates are significantly higher.