AWWA DSS58710

Adequate supply of safe water is regarded as one of the most important environmental determinants of public health. In the Middle East in general, and the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular, sources of rechargeable freshwater are very limited and scarce. In quantity terms, freshwater allocation is estimated to be 179 m³/capita/y against an average international of 1000 m³/capita/y. With extremely limited natural water resources, the majority of Gulf Cooperation Council countries depend on water desalination to satisfy drinking and other municipal water demands. Due to the high cost of water production by this process, strategies for water management have always been given top priority. The Kingdom of Bahrain has implemented various programs like water conservation and waste detection measures to achieve a low percentage of unaccounted-for water [UFW]. In the Kingdom of Bahrain initial study of UFW on the Bahrain water distribution network showed an alarming rate of distribution losses of 45% in 1984. This figure was reduced to 23% in 2001. Investments were and are being made to reduce leakage through various leakage management programs as a solution in reducing water demand requirement due to limited water resources. This paper shares the Bahrain experience in water management by applying leakage control as a strategy to reduce water losses in a distribution network where the percentage of UFW has dropped over 10 years from 31.63% in 1993 to 23.05% in 2001. Further measures are being taken to further reduce the percentage of UFW to 10% by the end of year 2003. Various action plans are discussed in this paper that are designed to achieve the ultimate goal of water management that include: waste detection; controlling pressure regime; replacement of defective mains; full and accurate metering policy, through Automatic Meter Reading; and, plant protection. The paper concludes that by adopting sensible water management techniques there is a considerable effect on the over all water conservation and waste management which in turn verifies economical utilization of expensive and scarce water resources. Also, it has an effect on the protection of natural water resources for future generations. Further actions will be required to complement the strategies adopted, especially: introduction and enforcement of water bylaws; enhancing public awareness; and, automatic reading system [AMR]. Includes 6 references, tables, figures.