Water loss

Summary

The requester asked for annual water loss figures due to leaks for Manx Utilities Authority. The authority disclosed that the known leakage level for 2015-16 was 6.99 Megalitres per day, explained the challenges in reducing it further, and noted that leakage has been halved since 1997.

Key Facts

• Current known leakage level (2015-16) is 6.99 Megalitres per day.
• Leakage equates to 164 litres per property per day or 6.04m3 per km per day.
• Leakage levels have been halved from 1997 figures to a record low in 2005.
• The theoretical policy minimum leakage level is 2.83 Ml/d, achievable only with infinite resources.
• Significant leakage occurs on customer private properties, such as animal troughs.

Data Disclosed

• 6.99 Megalitres per day
• 164 litres per property per day
• 6.04m3 per km per day
• 1200 km
• 1997
• 2005
• 2013-16
• 2.83 Ml/d
• 66.7 l/prop/day
• 10's of millions of pounds
• 2017
• 2015-16
• 2018-08-01
• 2018-08-20

Original Request

How much water does Manx Utilities lose through leaks each year? Companies in England keep data on this, so I see no reason why MUA shouldn't?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 554134 20 August 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 1 August 2018 and which states:

"How much water does Manx Utilities lose through leaks each year? Companies in England keep data on this, so I see no reason why MUA shouldn't?"

Our response to your request is as follows: The current known level of leakage (as reported in an independent report, commissioned in 2017) across Manx Utilities (2015-16) is 6.99 Megalitres per day (Ml/d) or 164 litres per property per day (l/prop/day) or 6.04m3 per km per day. Leakage levels across the 1200 km Island pipeline network are monitored daily and reported to the Manx Utilities Board monthly. Identified leaks are prioritised and repaired expediently. Leakage has been halved from levels seen in 1997 to a record low in 2005, rising slightly and then dipping again from 2013-16. The policy minimum level of leakage is 2.83 Ml/d (66.7 l/prop/day). This is a theoretical level that could only be achieved with infinite active leakage control resources. This means if Manx Utilities had unlimited financial resources (in the 10’s of millions of pounds) available to stop leakage this is a figure we might achieve. On the Isle of Man, reducing leakage is a challenge because of the following; 1) The island’s topography with hills that require high system pressures to feed some customers. This is similar to Scotland. 2) There are not many high densities of population where, pro rata leakage is easier to control and detect. 3) A significant proportion of leakage is on our customer’s private properties.
Customers are urged to repair leaks on their property when we find them, but many leaks go undetected, for example animal troughs.

During this period of prolonged dry weather, where it is in the public interest, we are trying to assist with repairing leaks on private mains, and have advised customers to contact us if they have a leak they would like us to inspect.

Please quote the reference number 554134 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely