무수수(NRW) : 미국 자치체의 물 손실, 비용, 동향

Report Summary:

A vast 2.2-million-mile network of water distribution pipes delivers treated water from source to consumer in the U.S. However, this aging infrastructure is under significant strain, with a water main break occurring approximately every two minutes, resulting in the loss of trillions of gallons of water annually. Beyond physical leaks and pipe failures, administrative errors, metering inaccuracies, and unauthorized consumption compound the financial and operational burdens on utilities.

Non-revenue water (NRW) is a significant but often overlooked challenge in water management. Even minor leaks can waste thousands of gallons each month. Utilities lose water through real losses (e.g., leaks and pipe bursts), apparent losses (e.g., metering errors and data inaccuracies), and unbilled authorized consumption (e.g., firefighting and municipal use). While system leakage is the largest contributor, even small inefficiencies can erode revenues, increase regulatory risks, and raise operational costs.

Despite its financial impact, NRW policy in the U.S. remains fragmented, with inconsistent reporting and minimal oversight. Awareness of the issue is growing, however. Policymakers are introducing new regulations, and utilities are investing in digital monitoring, leak detection, and advanced asset management to reduce losses and improve efficiency.

In this Insight Report, Bluefield Research analyzes 2,500 water loss audits across 11 states, quantifying the scale of NRW, its financial ramifications, and the evolving strategies utilities are deploying to address this growing challenge.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction to Non-revenue Water

• From Source to Tap: The Water Distribution Network
• NRW: Cause and Effect
• National Infrastructure Needs
• Leakage Economics: Balancing Cost with Water Loss Control

Section 2: Water Audits: Terminology, Methodology, and Policy

• Water Loss Auditing
• National Policy Landscape for Water Loss Data
• Water Loss Reporting Standards, by State

Section 3: Data Analysis: Sizing U.S. Non-revenue Water and Water Losses

• Research Methodology and Data Sources
• U.S. Non-revenue Water
• Key Metrics for Calculating U.S. Water Loss and NRW
• Water Loss and NRW by System Size
• Calculating Water Losses by Ownership Type
• U.S. Water Losses by Volume
• U.S. Water Losses by Estimated Cost
• The Water Sector's Carbon Impact

Section 4: Water Loss Reduction Solutions and Strategies

• A Suite of Solutions
• Infrastructure Solutions
• Digital Solutions
• Policy Solutions
• Collaborative Solutions