Non-Revenue Water
Recover lost revenue, reduce water loss, and optimize your utility's financial performance with expert NRW consulting from MeterWorks.
Education
What is Non-Revenue Water?
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water that has been produced and distributed by a utility but generates no revenue. It represents the gap between the water a utility puts into its distribution system and the water it actually bills customers for.
NRW has three main components: real losses (physical leaks and pipe breaks), apparent losses (meter inaccuracies, billing errors, unauthorized use), and unbilled authorized consumption (flushing, firefighting, etc.).
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimates that the average US utility loses 16% of its water to NRW — representing billions of dollars in lost revenue annually across the industry.
The Financial Impact
16%
Average US utility water loss
$2.6B
Annual NRW cost to US utilities
30-50%
NRW reduction achievable with proper metering
2-5 yrs
Typical payback period for NRW programs
Our Services
How MeterWorks Helps Recover Lost Revenue
Water Audits
Comprehensive AWWA water balance audits that quantify all components of your water loss — real, apparent, and unbilled.
Water Balance Analysis
Detailed analysis of your system input volume versus authorized consumption to identify and quantify losses.
Meter Testing & Accuracy
Field testing of existing meters to identify under-registration and revenue loss from aging or failed meters.
Water Loss Investigations
Systematic investigation of your distribution system to locate and quantify physical losses and apparent losses.
Pressure Management
Pressure zone analysis and management recommendations to reduce real losses from excessive system pressure.
District Metering
Design and implementation of district metered areas (DMAs) for continuous loss monitoring and rapid leak detection.
Our Process
The MeterWorks NRW Approach
01
Assessment
We review your existing data, billing records, and system information to establish a baseline.
02
Water Audit
Comprehensive AWWA water balance audit quantifying all loss components.
03
Investigation
Field investigation to locate and verify loss sources — meters, pipes, and billing.
04
Recovery Plan
Prioritized action plan with ROI projections for each recommended intervention.
How much water is your utility losing?
Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your utility's water loss challenges and how MeterWorks can help.