What is considered an acceptable water loss for a typical water system?

In typical water systems, an acceptable water loss is generally recognized as being less than 10%. This benchmark reflects a balance between operational efficiency and the reality of unavoidable losses due to factors such as leaks in the system, metering inaccuracies, and other operational issues. Keeping water loss below this threshold is crucial for a sustainable water supply, as it allows water utilities to maintain effective resource management and minimizes unnecessary waste.

Maintaining water loss at or below this level also helps ensure that the system remains economically viable, as excessive losses can lead to increased costs of treatment and distribution. Moreover, a lower water loss percentage reflects better maintenance practices and can improve the overall reliability and reputation of the water utility within the community. For these reasons, aiming for less than 10% water loss is considered industry best practice.