In A Drought, Non-Revenue Water Is The Cheapest New Supply You Have

When water supplies tighten, searching for new sources like new wells or desalination demands significant capital and time. Yet, the most cost-effective supply available is often the finished water a system produces and subsequently loses. Across the nation, trillions of gallons of treated water are lost annually as non-revenue water, driven partly by infrastructure leaks, continuous analyzer waste streams, and indiscriminate flushing routines.

While main breaks require major capital fixes, utilities hold direct control over self-inflicted losses within their facilities and distribution lines. Adopting zero-waste, in-line measurement technologies retains sample streams inside the pipe, while continuous residual monitoring enables targeted flushing only where chlorine decays. Stopping these controllable losses recovers water that is already paid for, pumped, and treated, offering an immediate supply option without the need for new water rights. Read the full article to evaluate your recovery options.