Non-revenue water loss in the last fiscal year (March 2020-21) is estimated at around 2,000 billion liters, accounting for 25% of the total water supply that stood at 8,000 billion liters.
According to Fars News Agency and based on data from of the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company (Abfa), of the total waste (2,000 billion liters), 50% were real losses [through leaks, also referred to as physical losses] and the rest were apparent losses [through theft or metering inaccuracies].
Given the fact that the average Iranian uses 100,000 liters of water per year, the massive loss could have been supplied to 20 million people in 2019.
Non-revenue water refers to water that has been produced and lost in different ways before it reaches consumers.
According to Ali Seyyedzadeh, Abfa’s public relations manager, the rate of wastage in developed countries is 15% and there is no such thing as “zero wastage” even in the most developed grids in the world.
As per the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2017-22), non-revenue water loss should decrease by 0.5% a year.
According to the official, the goal of reducing water wastage cannot be accomplished unless 1,000 kilometers of the water grid are rehabilitated per year.
Pointing to Japan where the rate of non-revenue water is 7%, he said modern infrastructure has helped the Asian economic power cut the rate to 3.4% in Tokyo.
Seyyedzadeh said more than 350 Iranians have undergone training in Japan in the past three years to preserve non-revenue water.
According to the official, management of dwindling water resources is more challenging in rural areas due to decentralized networks and lack of water meters.
On installing special equipment in public places and homes to reduce water consumption, he noted that because the devices are costly, households show little to no interest and do not feel the need to have such gadgets, as water tariffs are very low.
According to former energy minister, Reza Ardakanian, raising water and power tariffs can play a major role in stabilizing the key sectors.
Although water and electricity tariffs have risen by at least 21% compared to 2019, the ministry is still in deficit.
Ardakanian believes that such a marginal rise cannot help the ministry launch new ventures in the long run.
"Supplying people with quality potable water is a priority," Seyyedzadeh said, noting that 100% of urban population and 80% of rural areas have easy access to safe drinking water.
“Treating and supplying one cubic meter of water in mega cities cost 10 cents, but subscribers are charged less than 3 cents and the wide gap between what consumers pay and the final cost of water treatment and supply has plunged Abfa into the red to the tune of $120 million so far,” he added.
