From advanced hydraulic modelling to performance indicator for the efficiency of investments in leakage management of pressurized water systems

Introduction: The digital transition is meant as the review of processes using digital technologies and strategies to increase efficiency based on a simpler collection of representative data. The process of interest here is the leakage management in systems distributing water. Objective: To develop a novel key performance indicator (KPI) for leakage management considering the needs of ongoing digital transition in the water sector, which is opening a new era in the management of drinking water infrastructures. Methodology: The novel KPI, named Asset Management Support Indicator, is developed starting from advanced hydraulic modelling and the physical laws governing leakage outflows, in order to be physically based and rational for increasing the efficiency of leakage management activities using representative process data. Results: The Asset Management Support Indicator supports effective leakage management strategies by driving towards efficiency, as discussed and demonstrated using several real case studies. Conclusion: The novel indicator is consistent with the digital transition perspective and current need of increasing the efficiency of water utilities, and it is also suitable to be adopted by water authorities to benchmark their performances, because it overcomes the weaknesses of traditional KPIs.