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Water for Adelaide’s mains water system is collected from the Adelaide Hills catchments by a series of 10 reservoirs that are supplemented by transfers from the River Murray via two major pipelines.
Water is transmitted to eight water treatment plants. The treated water is then supplied to consumers via a distribution network.
It is estimated that in 2002-03 about 26,000 ML of water was ‘lost’, largely due to evaporation from reservoirs. The use of natural rivers as aqueducts to transfer water also results in some seepage losses. Other factors that have to be taken into account include leaking pipes in the mains system, old and inaccurate water meters, un-metered water use, and operational uses such as fire fighting and maintenance of the distribution system.
Our challenge is to continue to reduce these losses and to ensure all water is properly accounted for.
Key strategies relate to:
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