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Project Area

WaLUE - Water Losses in Urban Environment

High Water Losses Enforce an Urgent Need for a Water Loss Reduction Programme

In many Indian cities, public water services only work a few hours a day and Non-Revenue Water (water leakage, water theft and other losses) is frequently higher than 50 % (much higher than in Germany with 6.8 %). Rapid urbanisation, the growth of population, economic development and the contamination of regional water resources have further led to a rapid increase of the supply deficit and severe problems for national health and welfare.

As a result India and its Urban Local Bodies are determined to improve water quality, reduce water losses (i. e. less non revenue water), improve service quality, install a durable water sector infrastructure that is specifically designed for a growing demand, reduce maintenance expenses and create an economically sustainable water supply. With water losses of 50 % or more, water loss reduction programmes under the WaLUE concept will be many times more profitable than project investments to increase the water production (like extension of water abstraction and purification plants, river dams, water recycling units, desalination etc.).

Tailor-made Implemetation Concept for Water Loss Reduction in the Pilot Area

The overall target of the WaLUE project is to develop an integrated implementation concept for a water loss reduction programme (WLRP), tailor-made for the situation of water service utilities in India, with the City of Tiruvannamalai as a pilot area. The elaborated solution should be applicable to other developing and emerging countries. Therefore, existing methodologies and technologies have to be adapted. As a precondition for the profitability and financial viability of WLRP, a business model has to be created that ensures reliable and sustainable operation.

Pilot Area in the City of Tiruvannamala, Tamil Nadu

The project will be implemented in close cooperation and coordination with KfW, TNUDF and the City of Tiruvannamalai (150,000 inhabitants, located ca. 200 km from Chennai in the fast growing Indian Federal State of Tamil Nadu). It is strongly intended to transfer the WaLUE concept to other medium sized cities in India as well as in other developing and emerging countries.