Real Losses and Apparent Losses: understand the difference!

First of all, it is important to remember that the efficient distribution of drinking water is essential for the well-being of the population and sustainable development. However, water distribution systems face significant challenges related to real and apparent losses. 

And we will explore together in this post the difference between real and apparent losses and we will see the importance of minimizing them to promote sustainability and improvements to water distribution.

What are Real Losses?

Real Losses are those in which the water sent by the operator does not reach the consumer, that is, they are physical losses during the distribution process. They occur due to leaks in networks or branches, reservoir overflows and other infrastructure failures.

What are Apparent Losses?

Apparent Losses are those that, despite the water reaching the consumer, are not charged correctly. They can occur due to technical problems, such as a water meter that is not measuring consumption, or also due to fraud and clandestine connections. 

Regardless of what loss, apparent or real, occurs during the water distribution process – both cause economic, sustainable and social impacts. 

According to 2019 data from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS), Brazil's water distribution system loses approximately 39% of drinking water before reaching homes. With this volume, it would be possible to supply the 35 million Brazilians who do not have access to treated water.

That is why minimizing losses is so important to promote sanitation policy and ensure that the essential thing, water, is accessible to all people.

Discover Stattus4 solutions that help minimize losses

We develop solutions that aim to save water through early detection of leaks and consumption inconsistencies – the Ada System and 4Fluid Móvel. 

4Fluid Mobile 

The 4Fluid collector developed by Stattus4 records the noises that water makes as it passes through the pipes. This noise is analyzed by Artificial Intelligence, which makes it possible to locate the real losses, which are the most common.

The Ada System The Ada System is the water loss management solution that will transform the way water distribution operations are managed. 

In some cases the noise may be a little strange, so the system alerts the operator who can observe if there is a fraud. Our system allows you to note this event for later, more detailed investigation. By combating losses, we will always have more water to distribute.

Ada System

When using it, the manager can have access to accurate and real-time information from the field, it can be adapted to any sector size, as long as he knows where the entrances to the water distribution system are.