How to reduce water leakages in your operation: A £1 billion conundrum
Water leakages pose a significant and costly challenge for utilities worldwide, leading to substantial financial losses and operational inefficiencies.
In England and Wales alone, these leaks cost utilities nearly £1 billion annually, highlighting the urgent need for effective water management strategies. Beyond financial impacts, these leaks threaten water security, with some regions facing imminent shortages within the next two decades.
The Environment Agency estimates that England will need an extra 5 billion litres per day by 2050 to avoid shortages, highlighting the importance of efficient water management.
At FYLD, we’ve witnessed global water utility providers grappling with these challenges firsthand. Leakages not only strain operational budgets but also jeopardise water security for local residents, accounting for a significant portion of annual water loss. In response, utilities have turned to transformative solutions.
FYLD has successfully reduced leak runtime by an impressive 1.4 days, resulting in daily savings of approximately 2 megalitres—nearly one Olympic-sized swimming pool. This achievement translates into substantial annual savings and operational efficiencies, surpassing traditional methods while minimising costs.
Recognising the potential of advanced technologies, our customers partner with FYLD to deploy our AI-driven fieldwork execution platform. FYLD’s real-time data analytics and predictive capabilities offer a transformative approach to reducing leaks, aiming to cut operational costs and environmental impact.
Through FYLD, our customers gain comprehensive visibility into their network operations. The platform provides instant access to critical information: AI and human inputs allow field workers to capture essential data such as on-site job blockers. This empowers managers and field workers to make informed decisions promptly, implementing control measures and focusing attention where it’s most needed, such as high-risk jobs.
Understanding the Scale of the Issue
Leakages account for approximately 20% of the total UK water supply. In England and Wales over 1 trillion litres are lost annually—equivalent to 3,037 billion litres per day or 1,125 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The financial burden is staggering, with costs averaging £0.87795 per cubic metre across domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors.
Regulatory Challenges and Financial Implications
In addition to direct financial losses, water companies in the UK also face significant regulatory challenges related to leakage. Ofwat, the economic regulator for water services in England and Wales, has established ambitious targets to reduce leakage. The objective is to cut leakage by 16% by 2025, with a longer-term goal of reducing leakage by 50% from 2017-18 levels by 2050. When companies fail to meet these commitments, Ofwat imposes stringent fines and penalties, which have totaled more than £300 million to date.
Leakage Reduction with FYLD
Enter FYLD, an innovative solution leveraging advanced AI-driven technologies to revolutionise water operations. FYLD provides real-time visibility into operations, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs associated with leak detection and repair.
FYLD’s proactive approach not only addresses immediate financial challenges but also supports long-term sustainability goals. By harnessing predictive insights and real-time data analytics, FYLD empowers utilities to proactively manage and mitigate water leakages, safeguarding revenue and enhancing operational reliability.
*Note: By the time you finished reading this article, approximately 8.43 million litres of water were lost to leakage—equivalent to about 3.37 Olympic-sized swimming pools and £7,400 in lost revenue!
Take the Next Step
Interested in how FYLD can transform your water operations and cut leakages? Request a free demo today.
For a deeper dive into FYLD’s impact on water management, explore our case studies.
