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Improving the efficiency of water utilities is important for sustainable water use. If performance evaluation relies solely on quantitative results, those companies producing better services may be categorized as weak performers. For this reason, the role of service quality in such assessments has recently increased in developed countries. The hypothesis of this study is that variables and performance indicators of a water utility can be divided into external (depending on consumer characteristics) and internal (depending on enterprise characteristics). The novelty of this research is that it applies the principles of growth poles theory as a methodological basis for a comparative analysis of water utilities. The latter are classified by types of growth and development. Development poles with external sources are most effective for external investments. In 2013–2016, this category included four out of six of the studied Russian water utilities, for which we indicated the periods where the conversion of external inputs to outputs (for consumers) was as efficient as possible. The findings made it possible to formulate and anchor assumptions about how the increasing importance of environmental requirements would affect the efficiency of Russian water utilities.

Most Japanese water utilities are public entities. They operate their services independently at the municipal level. There is no regulation to promote cost efficiency in their performance. The water price is set to obtain revenue to cover costs (i.e., operating and capital costs). Therefore, it is possible that some water utilities do not try to minimize costs during their operation and inefficiencies accrue. We used the stochastic cost frontier analysis, with a time-varying decay inefficiency model, on data from 1184 Japanese water utilities from 2014 to 2018 to estimate their cost efficiency. The results show that their average cost inefficiency is more than 82%, and the degree of inefficiency has increased over time.

PURPOSE. Perform analysis of the actual heat energy consumption for cold water heating for the hot water utility to the approved standard. Compare different methods of flow control in circulation pipelines of hot water supply systems. Identify ways to improve the efficiency of hot water systems. METHODS. The passive engineering experiment was used to study the operating modes of hot water supply systems of several groups of houses, in which various methods of regulating water consumption in hot water supply systems are implemented. Data collection was carried out using the online system of control and commercial accounting of energy resources. RESULTS. Existing hot water supply systems in residential buildings of Ulyanovsk were inspected under various methods of flow control in circulation pipelines. Features of static and dynamic load control of hot water supply systems were investigated. Analysis of influence of methods of control of thermal load of hot water supply systems on their actual heat consumption was performed. The possibility of bringing the actual operation mode of hot water supply systems to the standard value, on the basis of which consumption is calculated, is estimated. CONCLUSION. Known methods of load control in hot water supply systems and their actual operating conditions do not allow to reach the level of heat consumption that meets the established standards. Conclusions were drawn on the need to revise the regulated indicators of hot water quality and to adjust the method of calculating consumption in hot water supply systems.

Purpose Digital records are either stored in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or an electronic content management (ECM) system or managed without the benefit of either. To achieve high productivity, integration of these systems is required. However, the utilisation of either an ERP or ECM system is absent in many organisations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of a framework that may support the integration of an ERP into an ECM system at Rand Water. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used a case design with 14 interviewees from different levels in the organisation and diverse business units using ERP and ECM to perform their operational deliverables. Purposive sampling was used to select the interviewees in line with their area of work, role and level of operation. Findings This study established that the water utility company has implemented an ERP system (SAP) since 2004 and ECM systems since 1991 (Papertrail and later IBM FileNet) with only the information flow module integrated. This study suggested that to integrate ERP into ECM, human and non-human actors need to collaborate to ensure large-scale integration. Originality/value This study presents a framework for integrating ERP into ECM. It is suggested that an integration module for ERPs called extended ECM, be considered. A further study of the transfer of digital records in ECM into archival custody is recommended.

[EN] The availability of instantaneous data on water consumption in water utilities of water distribution systems has been increasing due to the increase in the number of customers with smart meters. The analysis of these data allows to improve the billing systems and the customers’ management and to improve the water losses estimate in each water utility. Aiming to evaluate the apparent losses, through the analysis of the water consumption profiles, and real losses, through the study of the minimum night flow, 275 domestic customers of 10 water utilities were measured using a smart meter. The water consumption profiles useful for the global error measurement of the flowmeters park identified the predominant flow between 240 L/h and 1000 L/h, with an insignificant measured volume below 120 L/h (e.g., due to customer leakages). The estimate of the mean water consumption in the minimum consumption period (between 2 h and 5 h a.m.) was 1.2 L/(customer·h) for DN15 flowmeters and 2.0 L/(customer·h) for DN20 flowmeters. Using clustering, four water consumption patterns were also identified, with differences in the consumption scales, trends and peaks during the day. This work demonstrated the potential of smart metering campaigns to collect consumption data. Moreover, it also proposes a methodology and an initial set of statistics about the domestic consumption in each water utility and in the set of water utilities, which is crucial for the technical management of water distribution systems. [PT] O aumento da cobertura de clientes domésticos com telemedição tem levado a uma maior disponibilidade de dados de consumo instantâneo nas Entidades Gestoras (EG) de sistemas de distribuição de água. A análise destes dados, para além de melhorar a gestão dos sistemas de faturação e de gestão de clientes, permite também melhorar a estimativa das perdas de água em cada EG. Com o objetivo de avaliar as perdas aparentes, através da análise de perfis do consumo total, e as perdas reais, por via do estudo do consumo doméstico mínimo, foram realizadas campanhas de telemedição em 275 clientes domésticos referentes a 10 EG. Os perfis de consumo, relevantes para aferição do erro global do parque de contadores, revelaram que os consumos predominantes variam entre 240 e 1000 L/h, sendo o volume medido abaixo de 120 L/h (e.g., devido a fugas domiciliárias) praticamente insignificante. A estimativa do consumo médio de água no período de consumo mínimo (entre as 2 e as 5 h da manhã) foi 1.2 L/(utilizador·h) para contadores DN15 e 2.0 L/(utilizador·h) para contadores DN20. Utilizando análise de clusters, identificaram-se ainda quatro padrões de consumo distintos, diferenciados pelas escalas de consumo, tendências e picos ao longo do dia. Este trabalho demonstrou o potencial das campanhas de telemedição para recolha de dados de consumo. Além disso, forneceu uma metodologia e conjunto inicial de estatísticas sobre o consumo doméstico em cada EG e no conjunto das EG determinante para a gestão técnica dos sistemas de distribuição de água. Os autores agradecem a colaboração das entidades gestoras participantes no projeto Inicativa Nacional para gestão eficiente de perdas (iPerdas 2016). O primeiro autor agradece à Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, pela Bolsa de Doutoramento SFRH/BD/131382/2017. Agradece-se ainda o financiamento da FCT, através do projeto UID/Multi/04621/2019 do CEMAT/IST-ID, Centro de Matemática Computacional e Estocástica, Instituto Superior Técnico, ULisboa.

The objective of this work is to develop a decision support methodology intended for drinking water utility managers in order to support them in the challenge of achieving better performance in the management of the customer area. This methodology requires the prior collection of data for the identification of registered claims. Subsequently, an evaluation of the performance of the customer area defined by the objective ‘Better listening to customer claims’ will be carried out; this requires the structuring of the objective in a hierarchy based on indicators and the adoption of two adequate decision support tools, a fuzzy-AHP for weighting the elements and WASPAS for calculating the performance of the objective. An application is carried out on the water utility of the Wilaya of Bejaia (Algeria). The data collection enabled the identification of 19 types of claims divided into three aspects. The combination of fuzzy-AHP and WASPAS allowed assessment of the performance of the objective during the period 2014–2018 and to make a judgment on the national policy established. The results are satisfactory. Progress has been made in claims management, but the major difficulty lies in the claims processing relating to the quantitative aspect. Highlights Evaluation of the policy of listening to customer claims in a drinking water utility.; Importance of the claims information source ensuring reliability and availability of practical data.; Overall analysis of data through the identification of the claims’ nature.; Choice of an approach that simplifies the system under a hierarchical tree structure.; Choice of tools, fuzzy-AHP and WASPAS method for better performance evaluation.

Utilities’ communication strategies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been uneven; some have been proactively informing customers about the safety of water and other coronavirus-related issues, while others have been less engaged. Seventy percent of customer respondents to the J.D. Power survey said they are not aware of actions implemented by their water utility in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Water utilities should find new and creative ways to elevate their communications, including social media and joint mass-media engagement with other local organizations.

Leakage is one of the main sources of water loss in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs). Although a water utility intends to reduce the leakage to the minimum possible level, considering the high le...

In urban areas where water is not adequately supplied, women’s efforts to make a living out of water-intensive businesses face many challenges. The study examined how small-scale businesses run by women in Wukro town, Ethiopia are impacted by inadequate supply of water, and what coping strategies are employed. The lived experiences of women involved in small-scale water-intensive businesses, such as traditional beer brewing and coffee shops, were examined. In addition to these women, the perspectives and experiences of selected key informants as well as the officers at the local water utility have been assessed. Whether or not these women secure support from the social networks in their neighbourhood has also been considered. The study revealed that the unreliable supply of water in the town has impacted women involved in small business. It was indicated that some women manage to do well either by borrowing water from neighbours or purchasing from providers. In contrast, others who run businesses in rented houses with limited social networks expressed that they are struggling. Suggestions are made for the water utility to revise its working guidelines related to the provision of water services and to implement a gendered perspective in water management practices.

Energy efficiency plays an important role in all water sectors. Energy is one of the largest operating costs for water system. For water utility systems, energy is needed for transports of raw water, water treatment process, water storage and distribution. Energy usage can vary based on water source, treatment type, facility age, storage capacity, topography, and system size, which encompasses volume produced and service area. Water Companies are well known with importance of reducing energy consumption and costs as a means to optimize overall system performance and to provide a safe water supply. But managing staff of the water system and operators may not be fully aware of the options available to them to manage their energy budget or to identify, prioritize and fund energy improvement projects. By applying energy efficiency, water utility sectors can build a successful energy management program and achieve energy savings. This paper discusses energy issues facing public water utility sector, steps that responsibility personnel can take to understand and reduce their energy use and costs, and funding resources for energy efficiency. Main focus in this paper is to perform possibilities for increasing energy efficiency of the Pumping Station in Milloshevë which supply with raw water Treatment Plant in Shkabaj, Kosovo.

Water distribution systems (WDSs) today are expected to continuously provide clean water while meeting users demand, and pressure requirements. To accomplish these targets is not an easy task due to extreme weather events, operative accidents and intentional attacks; as well as the progressive deterioration of the WDS assets. Therefore, water utilities should be ready to deal with a range of disruption scenarios such as abrupt variations on the water demand e.g. caused by pipe bursts or topological changes in the water network. This paper presents a novel methodology to automatically split a WDS into self-adapting district metered areas (DMAs) of different size in response to such scenarios. Complex Networks Theory is proposed for creating novel multiscale network layouts for a WDS. This makes it possible to automatically define the dynamic partitioning of WDSs to support further DMA aggregation / disaggregation operations. A real, already partitioned, water utility network shows the usefulness of an adaptive partitioning when the network is affected by an abnormal increase of the peak demand of up to 15%. The dynamic DMA reuses the assets of the static partitioning and, in this case, up to the 82% of resilience is restored using 94% of the assets already installed. The results also show that the overall computational and economic management costs are reduced compared to the static DMA partition while the hydraulic performance of the WDS is simultaneously preserved.

A water utility requires myriads of data for effective decision-making. As the sources and ranges of data are becoming increasingly complex, the use of a metadata framework can play a significant role in effective data management. Using case study method, this research analyzed data needs of a water supply system in a small town in South Australia and designed a demo portal of a metadata framework. As part of the case study, the project team undertook a broad investigative approach using focus group (interviews), observation, exploration of potential data sources, identification of knowledge leaders and information technology systems. The metadata framework comprised two separate but interconnected metadata groups, (1) metadata elements to describe the metadata source and (2) metadata elements to describe the datasets held in each data source. The metadata framework was populated to describe data sources and data held in each of the sources. The data catalogue created by this process showed that it was accomplishable and appropriate to describe data sources and datasets via a metadata framework. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Inaccurate and inconsistent documentation of subsurface utilities is a reoccurring problem in the construction industry affecting not only the end-users, but all actors involved in designing, constructing, and maintaining pipes, cables and other utilities hidden underground. In this study, a new method for 3D capturing of subsurface utilities, based on a newly developed Smartphone-based Reality Capture (RC) solution is explored. The research was divided into two parts. Firstly a testing of the method accuracy and secondly, an investigation of the usability of the method. The research results firstly showed that the RC solution is a feasible surveying method, that facilitate capturing of as-built utility assets, which can be used as a supporting tool to conventional surveying methods or alone, as the testing showed an accuracy of ±5 cm for the generated point clouds. Secondly the usability testing revealed that the RC solution benefited the utility owners by allowing time-savings on construction projects, as well as generating visual-realistic 3D models of exposed subsurface utilities to be used for quality assurance and planning of future utility work.

This article examines factors associated with trust in the public water utility and informal water vendors in the city of Dar es Salaam. We model trust in terms of citizens’ perceptions of what water providers deliver, how well the service fits with their lifestyle and values, the ease with which they can contact and influence the provider, and how well the government handles water issues. Our data come from a survey of the adult population of the four main residential districts of Dar es Salaam, conducted in March 2018. We find that trust in water providers is built on different foundations for the public utility and informal vendors. For the public utility, trust depends mainly on habituation to the service, knowledge of the vernacular and evaluations of government performance. For informal vendors, trust depends mainly on habituation to the service and capacity for engagement with social issues. Our study illustrates the how trust in service providers is an outcome of social accountability at the micro-level.