Reports inform modernisation of water leakage reporting methodology

Ofwat is currently consulting on introducing a new methodology to calculate and report leakage to make it more accurate, consistent, and transparent. Until now, the way companies report leakage has been based on estimations because it has been difficult to split consumption (what customers use) from leakage in the network.

However, according to Ofwat, almost all customers will be fitted with smart water meters over the next 15 years. This means that the method HR Wallingford developed for UKWIR in the report “A Deep Dive into Leakage using Smart Meter Data" can be introduced.  It will then be possible to migrate from the current estimations to an improved leakage reporting methodology, and Ofwat is looking at the options for this.  

To inform the new methodology, Ofwat commissioned a series of work packages. We worked on three of these, two with Artesia and a third with International Water Specialists (IWS). We produced three reports as a result:

• International comparison – HR Wallingford / IWS
• Smart Meter Data and Night Use allowances – HR Wallingford / Artesia
• Customer Supply Pipe Leakage – HR Wallingford / Artesia

The Ofwat website has more information about the methodology, and the reports from the five workstreams can be found at:
https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/resilience-in-the-round/operational-resilience/leakage-reporting-methodology/

The consultation opened to water companies and any other interested parties on 27 August and closed on 9 October.