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Reduction of water losses by rehabilitation of water distribution network

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Abstract

Physical or real losses may be indicated as the most important component of the water losses occurring in a water distribution network (WDN). The objective of this study is to examine the effects of piping material management and network rehabilitation on the physical water losses and water losses management in a WDN. For this aim, the Denizli WDN consisting of very old pipes that have exhausted their economic life is selected as the study area. The fact that the current network is old results in the decrease of pressure strength, increase of failure intensity, and inefficient use of water resources thus leading to the application of the rehabilitation program. In Denizli, network renewal works have been carried out since the year 2009 under the rehabilitation program. It was determined that the failure rate at regions where network renewal constructions have been completed decreased down to zero level. Renewal of piping material enables the minimization of leakage losses as well as the failure rate. On the other hand, the system rehabilitation has the potential to amortize itself in a very short amount of time if the initial investment cost of network renewal is considered along with the operating costs of the old and new systems, as well as water loss costs. As a result, it can be stated that renewal of piping material in water distribution systems, enhancement of the physical properties of the system, provide significant contributions such as increase of water and energy efficiency and more effective use of resources.

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Acknowledgements

The authors greatly appreciate the cooperation of DESKI (General Manager of water and sewerage works of Denizli) authorities for providing data and information. The authors are also grateful for the editor and anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Denizli Water and Sewerage Authority, Denizli, Turkey

    Mahmud Güngör & Ufuk Yarar

  2. Inonu University Civil Engineering Department, Malatya, Turkey

    Mahmut Firat

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  1. Mahmud Güngör
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  2. Ufuk Yarar
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  3. Mahmut Firat
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Correspondence to Mahmut Firat.

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Güngör, M., Yarar, U. & Firat, M. Reduction of water losses by rehabilitation of water distribution network. Environ Monit Assess 189, 498 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6219-5

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