Implementation Strategy for "Regional Project for the Development of the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Iasi County, during 2014-2020 Period", in order to limit the

NRW values in the operation of drinking water supply systems

M. Doruş, C. Savastru, I.V. Apetroi, Şt. Chirica

APAVITAL Iaşi

CONTENT:

1. INTRODUCTION2. THE EXISTING SITUATION AND THE NEED FOR IMPLEMENTING A NRW

RELATED STRATEGY3. CASE STUDY REGARDING THE NRW AMOUNTS AFTER THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOP PROGRAM IN THE TÂRGU FRUMOS OPERATIONAL AREA

4. THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY OF THE LIOP PROGRAM IN REFERENCE TO THE MINIMALIZATION OF NRW VALUES

5. CONCLUSIONS

INTRODUCTION

As regards the investments carried out for the extension of water

supply systems, a key issue is the development of a unitary strategy

at regional level. This strategy must correlate water sources (in terms

of quality, available flows, zonal distribution) with the consumers’

requirements. The lack of such a strategy leads to inappropriate sizing

of water supply systems that feature pipe diameters and storage

capacities not adequate for the real water demand.

Inappropriate sizing of water supply systems leads to big NRW

values either from network stress and frequent leakage, either from

water aging in the network, thus the need to evacuate and replace it,

leading to authorized non-billed water volumes, components of the

NRW factor.

THE EXISTING SITUATION

AND THE NEED FOR IMPLEMENTING A NRW RELATED STRATEGY

Considering the regional nature of Apavital S.A. company, which operates systems

of various nature, operating parameters and distinct performance indicators, there

is need to implement a company-wide strategy in order to limit the NRW amounts

across the entire operating area.

The expanding of Apavital operating area is achieved by three different methods:

a• taking over of water systems that are already operational,

but featuring advanced degrees of deterioration (e.g. the Town of Paşcani)

b • taking over new systems or network extensions from local government investments

c

• managing new systems, which were completed by investments from Apavital funds or non-reimbursable funds, carried out by means of Apavital design department or via third-party designers.

In order to ensure the sustainable development of new water systems, there was

need to identify the causes that are leading to major deficiencies in systems

currently operated

inappropriate sizing of water systems, this

generating either high water velocities or prolonged water

stagnation inside pipelines and the need for periodic

pipe flushing

difficult defining of pipeline routes in relation to operational capacity

(difficult accessible areas, large number of under-crossings and direction

changes etc.)

lack of correlation or incorrect correlation

between materials used and the nature of

terrain/network site (heavy traffic areas, areas prone

to landslides etc.)

deficiencies in the operation of water tanks

and pumping stations

problems with monitoring and controlling water losses inside under-

crossing systems

changes in network operational pressures

according to the increasing/decreasing of

estimated consumed flows

CASE STUDY REGARDING THE NRW AMOUNTS AFTER THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOP PROGRAM IN THE

TÂRGU FRUMOS OPERATIONAL AREA

One of the major projects completed under SOP Environment Program was the

investment named "Upgrading of water and sewerage systems in the Town of Târgu

Frumos" (Works Contract 11).

The project was aimed at:

replacing the aging infrastructure

replacing connections made with

compression pipe joints with

connections made with electro-

fusion joints

local reconfiguration of pipe routes

expanding the network to accept

new consumers

The network, at key locations, was

equipped with measurement and

control devices integrated with both

local and central dispatch and

control departments.

Under the project,

rehabilitation works

were foreseen for

approximately 19% of

the existing pipeline

network length, and

extension works for

approximately 15.5%.

No ActivityLength

[m]

1 Upgrading of main water pipelines 913

2 New main water pipelines 3,012

3 Hydraulic upgrading of existing distribution networks 597

4 Replacement of asbestos-cement sectors 1,253

5 Extension of water supply network 4,951

Total 10,726

The case study of Târgu Frumos operating area included data sets recorded during

the pre-accession phase of the SOP Environment program, during the project

implementation phase and after works completion.

tendency of water consumption

increasing, per household

the continuous increasing of

consumers numbers

a decreasing of water volumes

injected into the system

The final effectiveness of this investment (Works Contract 11) as regards the reducing

of NRW amounts in the Târgu Frumos operational area.

YearTWS

Percentage from TWS

BC UMC WL NRW

[m3] [%] [%] [%] [%]

2011 679,233 59.01 1.48 39.51 40.99

2012 627,775 74.90 0.17 24.93 25.10

2013 626,174 66.62 0.18 33.20 33.38

2014 610,887 52.35 0.18 47.47 47.65

2015 535,149 74.46 0.89 24.66 25.54

2016 504,324 80.09 2.16 17.75 19.91

2017 540,536 78.14 1.34 20.52 21.86

Note: TWS – Total Water Supply; BC – Billed

Consumption; UMC – Unbilled Metered

Consumption; WL – Water Loss; NRW – Non-

Revenue Water

Analysis of data in Table 2 shows how the volumes of water injected into system

gradually decreased starting with 2011 as a result of investments carried out with

Apavital financing and continued to decrease as a result of the implementation of

the project financed by European funds.

The system's upgrading started in 2013 and the rapid progress of the work can be

noticed by analyzing the subsequent monitoring intervals.

The study period 2014 - 2015 is marked by a substantial increase in the

performance indicators obtained in the Târgu Frumos system.

water flows injected into system decreased

billed consumption increased

water losses decreased

NRW amounts dropped

The analysed period 2011 - 2017 is characterized by three stages of evolution.

Rehabilitation and upgrading stage through Apavital funds investments - until 2013

- the pipe replacement during the 2010 - 2011 period decreased the water losses

- the subsequent increase in water loss in 2013 indicated that it was necessary to continue

investments in the water supply system

The system upgrading stage through the completion of Works Contract 11 project during period 2013

- 2016 lead to an improvement of technical and financial indicators obtained before implementation:

- a reduction in input water volumes pumped into the system - up to 504,324 m3

- an increase in the billed water volumes - up to 403,915 m3

- a decrease in water losses, up to 89,522 m3

The system operation stage is

represented by the values from 2017:

- an increase of the input water volumes

by about 7.18% (540,536 m3)

- an increase of water losses-110,897 m3.

The operational period that follows the

completion period is known as the

system’s “running-in” stage, stage

during which water loss values can

increase.

THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY OF THE LIOP PROGRAM

IN REFERENCE TO THE MINIMALIZATION OF NRW VALUES

Currently, S.C. Apavital S.A. Iasi operates approx. 4600 km of water supply network,

managed through four operational sectors: Distribution-Sewerage ZMI (Iaşi

Metropolitan Zone), Bahlui Operational Sector, Prut-Bârlad Operational Sector, Siret

Operational Sector.

The investments carried out

through LIOP program are aimed at

the development of the regional

water supply system.

The construction, extension and

rehabilitation of:

331,484 m of

distribution

networks

284,303 m of

main water

pipelines

10 new water supply

systems will be created

The implementation strategy of the "Regional Project for Development of Water and

Wastewater Infrastructure in Iasi County for period 2014-2020" represents a

collection of good practices identified in operating process of water supply systems

and in implementation of the infrastructure projects developed by S.C. Apavital S.A.

both by company’s own funds and by non-reimbursable financing.

Measures taken by the operator in the design, execution and operationphases

guarantee the sustainable

development of the water supply systems in

operation

have a major impact on the immediate reduction

of NRW amounts in existing systems

help keep the NRW at low values in the newly commissioned systems

a) The procedure during the design phase

Operational sector

• System needs

PIU

• Design brief

• Indicators

CTE

• approves the implementation solution

The design brief is submitted to the General Designer in order to compile the

technical documentations. After their completion, the investment is taken over by PIU

in order to correlate the design activity with the operation method (choice of materials,

network route tracing, creation of DMAs and pressure zones, setting the

measurement and control points, implementation of Smart Water Networks concept).

The operational sector defines the system’s need and notifies the PIU about the

requests for rehabilitation, replacement or extension of network sections in the

operating area

The Project Implementation Unit (PIU), via the personnel in charge with the

verification, the correlation of activities with the Master-plan, the Feasibility studies

and other investments, establishes the design brief and submits for approval, towards

the TEC (Technical-Economic Council), the investment’s main indicators.

the materials used are HDPE for distribution networks and cast iron for main water

pipelines (this decisional step is based on annual statistics related to the

occurrence of network failures);

using pressure class immediately above the class resulting from sizing calculations;

this measure is justified by the analysis section execution cost / intervention cost in

case of system failures caused by high pressure fluctuations; an increase in costs

with approx. 15% was noted when switching from PN6 pipes to PN10 tubes;

a minimum 32 mm diameter is mandatory for public connections (manufactured by

electro welding); the result is a superior efficiency as regards the reduced number

of pipe bursts and pipe leakages, compared to the previous over-use of 25 mm

connections, (manufactured by compression joining);

"C" class water meters (fitted with remote data transfer units) are mandatory;

the automation of pumping stations and storage tanks and their integration into the

central dispatcher control room;

placement of water leakage collecting manholes and observation manholes at

under crossings;

using pressure limitation equipment and additional network protection measures in

case of technical failures in the system.

The main guiding lines in choosing the materials and execution technologies

PIU

• supervises the contractor's and consultant's contract indicators

• ensures the interface with operational personnel

• provides additional control as regards the completed works quality

Consultant

• provides supervision of investment in compliance to contract by means of specialized personnel

• issues reports towards PIU

Contractor

• provides works execution in compliance to the contract

• notifies PIU and the Consultant as regards the need to adapt the project to the terrain

b) The procedure during execution phase

PIU ensures the project implementation through assigned project officers. These

officers will supervise the contract physical and financial indicators and will ensure the

relationship with the Consultant. No project officer will implement more than two

contracts at the same time within the Program. The project officers will also have a

Site Supervisor specialization in relevant areas.

By implementing this measure from the SOP Environment program, an additional

control measure is introduced as regards the Consultant supervision, which

drastically reduces the number of reported defects during the notification period and

implicitly the NRW value.

c) The procedure during the defect notification period

During the defect notification period (1 year), the As-built documentation is

submitted to GIS and Network Analysis Departments for digital mapping.

After inputting the data in GIS, the Network Analysis Bureau builds the network

hydraulic model with MikeUrban Software.

The measures listed are focused on two issues that are crucial in limiting the NRW

values in the forecasted period:

PIU

Network Analysis

GIS

During this period not only the obvious defects

will be detected (failures, low pressures), but

the model will also highlight all major gaps

between designed parameters and real

network parameters.

increasing the quality of executed networks

gathering data for the first year of operation,

which can be used as benchmark data in

the annual network evolution analysis

1. S.C. Apavital S.A. operates water systems that feature various technical

specifications and performance indicators, which leads to the need to adopt

optimization solutions, tailored according to the specific features of each system.

2. The water loss management, in the company, is based on a thorough analysis of

each operated water supply system.

3. The case study analysed in the Targu Frumos operational area demonstrated the

necessity to upgrade the water system.

4. During the implementation period the NRW amount decreased from 47.65% to

19.91% and one year after the completion of the upgrading works of the Târgu

Frumos water supply system. Thus, out of the total injected water volume of 540,536

m3, the billed consumption was 78.14% and the NRW amount was 21.86%.

5. The procedures adopted are an integral part of the company-wide strategy to

reduce the NRW value. Its effectiveness can be observed at local level, through the

implementation of CL 11 works contract in Târgu Frumos city, as well as at the level of

the entire operating area of S.C. Apavital S.A., by continuing the investment programs

financed from own funds and non-reimbursable sources.

6. At each stage in the lifetime of a water supply system, from the conceptual stage to

the operation phase, the measures implemented by S.C. Apavital S.A. aim to prevent,

limit and control the value of water losses and NRW.

CONCLUSIONS

CONTACT DETAILS:

Name : Apetroi Ioan Vladut

Organization : S.C. APAVITAL S.A.

E-mail : vlad.apetroi@apavital.ro

THANK YOU !MULTUMESC!