ABSTRACT

From a day-to-day operational viewpoint, the water utilities would be able to identify with certainty how much water is required to meet demand and how much water is unaccounted for, due to factors such as leakage and illegal use, resulting in a more cost effective and efficient service. Furthermore, it will aid in the mitigation of detrimental environmental impacts that result from unnecessary over-abstraction of water resources. From a financial and strategic perspective, accurate calculations of demand will ensure that water utilities determine their correct revenues and levels of investment to ensure that water supplies are secure both now and in the future. Appropriate targets can, therefore, be set for resource development, leakage reduction and demand management. These targets can, undoubtedly, aid in the promotion of a sustainable water resource management strategy. It may, for example, help to inform an investment strategy to ensure sustainable development of water resources, which consider social, environmental and economic impacts.