Consequently the city has begun to experience a rise in the groundwater level that
is causing a variety of problems for its citizens.
This chapter outlines the methodologies and discusses the results from a field
study of water losses from the municipal wet infrastructures in six selected areas of
Ar-Riyadh that included the potable water, the sanitary sewer, and the storm
drainage networks. More emphasis was put on the field identification of leakage
from the potable water network that approached 16% of the water fed into the areas.
Thus Ar-Riyadh compares well with other cities around the world where leakage has
been reported to be in the range between 5% and 50%. Losses from the sanitary and
storm drainage systems were 7% and 4.5%, respectively. Besides the impacts on
buildings and infrastructure services, the cost of potable water lost by leakage on its
own, estimated at a minimum value of US$50 million per year, is a considerable
economic loss.
Keywords Water losses · Infrastructure · Methodology · Potable water ·
Wastewater · Drainage water · Water table · Ar-Riyadh · Percent water loss · Field
study and problems
1 Introduction
Information from many cities around the world shows that water systems are never
completely watertight. In pressurized potable water networks, losses may vary
between 5% and 50% (see Table 6.1), depending on the local conditions of the
system. The factors that may contribute to leaks in pipes include the following [1–3]:
1. Elevated pressures in the water network
2. Pipe material, quality of fittings, and workmanship
3. Soil characteristics and movement
4. Corrosion and deterioration of pipes
5. Age of pipes
6. Heavy traffic
7. Excavations and damage by others
8. Leakage through abandoned connections
Safe drinking water is a necessity for life. Every day billions of gallons of this
precious commodity are delivered to millions of people across the world. Thousands
of independent water utilities around the world are dedicated to producing, treating,
and delivering safe water to the public. Significant resources are required to install,
operate, and maintain the infrastructure of a public water system (PWS). PWSs are
facing more obstacles and challenges today than they have in the past with more
resource and funding constraints especially so in developing countries. Key issues
contributing to the poor operation and maintenance in developing countries have
been identified as follows [4]:
1. Lack of funds and inadequate data on operation and maintenance
238
N. K. Shammas et al.
is causing a variety of problems for its citizens.
This chapter outlines the methodologies and discusses the results from a field
study of water losses from the municipal wet infrastructures in six selected areas of
Ar-Riyadh that included the potable water, the sanitary sewer, and the storm
drainage networks. More emphasis was put on the field identification of leakage
from the potable water network that approached 16% of the water fed into the areas.
Thus Ar-Riyadh compares well with other cities around the world where leakage has
been reported to be in the range between 5% and 50%. Losses from the sanitary and
storm drainage systems were 7% and 4.5%, respectively. Besides the impacts on
buildings and infrastructure services, the cost of potable water lost by leakage on its
own, estimated at a minimum value of US$50 million per year, is a considerable
economic loss.
Keywords Water losses · Infrastructure · Methodology · Potable water ·
Wastewater · Drainage water · Water table · Ar-Riyadh · Percent water loss · Field
study and problems
1 Introduction
Information from many cities around the world shows that water systems are never
completely watertight. In pressurized potable water networks, losses may vary
between 5% and 50% (see Table 6.1), depending on the local conditions of the
system. The factors that may contribute to leaks in pipes include the following [1–3]:
1. Elevated pressures in the water network
2. Pipe material, quality of fittings, and workmanship
3. Soil characteristics and movement
4. Corrosion and deterioration of pipes
5. Age of pipes
6. Heavy traffic
7. Excavations and damage by others
8. Leakage through abandoned connections
Safe drinking water is a necessity for life. Every day billions of gallons of this
precious commodity are delivered to millions of people across the world. Thousands
of independent water utilities around the world are dedicated to producing, treating,
and delivering safe water to the public. Significant resources are required to install,
operate, and maintain the infrastructure of a public water system (PWS). PWSs are
facing more obstacles and challenges today than they have in the past with more
resource and funding constraints especially so in developing countries. Key issues
contributing to the poor operation and maintenance in developing countries have
been identified as follows [4]:
1. Lack of funds and inadequate data on operation and maintenance
238
N. K. Shammas et al.