Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4 December 2019. The first World Water Loss Day was marked today with a special event held during the International Water Association’s 2019 Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, drawing attention to the need for greater action to reduce the estimated 346,000,000,000 litres lost every day from drinking water supply networks globally.

WWLD has been initiated by the Water Loss Specialist Group of the International Water Association. A reduction of only 30% in these water losses would allow 800 million people to be supplied with water that has already been treated, according to the group.

December 4 was chosen for WWLD as this day two major conferences featuring the theme of water loss are taking place at this time – the IWA Congress and this year’s water loss event of the American Water Works Association.

“Water loss is a global issue. Although there are many successes to promote, there are also many more countries that need to start to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) is some way or form,” commented Stuart Hamilton, Chair of the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group.

“The idea of World Water Loss Day is to gain momentum and to get every country to participate in reducing loss of this valuable product.”

Hamilton explained that the WLSG has been busy promoting the initiative and has expanded promotion to several other associations around the world, with a significant buy-in from the American Water Works Association and the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association.

“The aim of WWLD is to generate worldwide awareness of this issue, and not just restricting it to water utility employees, but making this a recognised day so that everyone will buy into reducing water losses,” added Gary Wyeth, Secretary of the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group  in his inaugural presentation of the WWLD at the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition today.

“It doesn’t matter how small the actions are. If the day prompts a homeowner to repair a dripping tap, and if 100,000 people do this, then the savings become significant.”

ENDS –

More information on World Water Loss Day here: www.worldwaterlossday.org

Media Contact:

Ulrike Kelm – IWA Communications Manager | +31615903155 | ulrike.kelm@iwahq.org