Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Surveys in British Columbia
Non-revenue water is treated water a utility produces but never bills for, and a large share of it is lost to leaks in the distribution network. A non-revenue water survey quantifies and locates those losses so a municipality can repair the highest-impact leaks first and demonstrate responsible stewardship of supply.
Leaks.ca is the educational leak detection hub and service-support division of Leak.ca, helping BC property owners understand leak risks and connect with professional detection services when needed.
- District-by-district acoustic leak surveys across the network
- Background-leakage assessment alongside reported breaks
- Prioritization of leaks by volume lost and repair difficulty
- Repeatable program design so losses are driven down over time
- Reduced non-revenue water and recovered supply capacity
- Lower pumping and treatment cost for water that never reached customers
- Evidence for asset-management and water-loss reporting
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Surveys — FAQ
Non-revenue water is the difference between the water a utility puts into the system and the water it bills for. It includes real losses (leaks and breaks), apparent losses (metering and data errors) and unbilled authorized use. Leak detection targets the real-loss portion, which is often the largest and most recoverable.
It depends on the network's age, materials and current loss level, but background leakage on an older system can run continuously and unseen. Locating and repairing those leaks recovers treated water and the energy used to pump and treat it.
Serving BC Municipalities
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Surveys guidance for water utilities across British Columbia. Explore local water-main context by city:
Other Municipal Services
Pinpoint leaks on buried distribution and transmission mains without excavating the whole street.
Walk the network listening at every valve and hydrant to surface hidden background leakage.
Two sensors on the main, one mathematical fix — leak position to within inches on long runs.
Large-diameter supply mains carry huge volumes — a single leak is a major, hard-to-hear loss.
Divide the network into measured zones so rising night flow flags leakage early.
Right-sizing pressure cuts both leakage volume and the rate of new breaks.
Hydrants and valves are the network's listening posts — and assets worth checking themselves.
Deploy loggers across a zone to listen overnight and report where new leakage appears.
Before a main renewal program, know which segments are actually leaking and failing.
Locate the break, find any related leakage, and document the failure for the record.
Know exactly where the buried main, valves and connections run before any work.
Need non-revenue water (nrw) surveys for your network?
Leaks.ca is the educational hub for BC water utilities and property owners. Leaks.ca is the educational division — for booking and on-site detection across British Columbia, our service partner Leak.ca handles professional assessments.
Educational hub & service-support division of Leak.ca · Serving all of British Columbia · Since 1999