Tracking Number: WellPerformingPUU_2006_EN

One of the major issues affecting water utilities in the developing world is the considerable difference between the amount of water put into the distribution system and the amount of water billed to consumers (also called “non-revenue water” [NRW]). High levels of NRW reflect huge volumes of water being lost through leaks, not being invoiced to customers, or both.In this report, a number of case studies, taken from some of the largest and most recent performance-based NRW contracts, are studied and discussed in terms of their technical and financial performance.

Introduction: Following the passage of the comprehensive decentralization law of March 2, 1982 (Articles 90 and 91; CGCT, Article L-1111-5 and following), Standard Contract are no longer obligatory. They now serve only as “models”, which local authorities may refer should they so wish. It is in this manner that local authorities (or their collective institutions) have continued to use the Standard Contracts for the distribution of drinking water, as approved by the executive order dated March 17, 1980.  Nonetheless, this document showed some signs that it was becoming out of date.