Water Audits and Leak Detection: Practicable Approaches to Water Conservation

Course Description

This course provides practicing engineers with a structured, end-to-end exploration of water loss, water audits, and leak detection as the foundation of sustainable water resource management and utility performance. Drawing on real utility data, regulatory drivers, and field case studies, the course first defines real, apparent, and nonrevenue water losses and examines their financial, infrastructure, environmental, water quality, and customer service impacts on utilities and communities. It then introduces water audits as a systematic, data-driven approach to tracking water from source to discharge, covering top down (desktop) and bottom up audits, use of AWWA water audit software, and how audit outputs support targeted capital investment and operational decision-making. Building on this foundation, participants evaluate innovative and traditional leak detection technologies including AI-enabled smart meters, acoustic sensing, satellite imaging, and even trained leak detection dogs along with proactive asset management practices, pressure management, sanitary surveys, and strategies to monitor and deter water theft. The course concludes by positioning engineers at the center of water loss management planning, presenting a practical framework to assess current systems, set quantitative goals and KPIs, prioritize and finance mitigation strategies, integrate predictive analytics, engage the community, and continually improve water loss programs for long-term resilience and sustainability.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify and describe the fundamentals, causes, and types of water loss; and the financial, infrastructure, environmental, quality, and customer service impacts.

2. Evaluate the benefits and implementation challenges of innovative leak detection technologies and strategies as proactive tools for water conservation and planning.

3. Analyze the importance of water audits to inform sustainable solutions and drive effective investment in water utility assets.

4. Discuss the role of engineers play in developing sustainable water management solutions and proactively employing various techniques and strategies to prevent water loss.