Investigation of water losses with real time pressure management as a case study in Sakarya

Urban growth and limited freshwater resources have made water management increasingly critical. As cities expand and water must be transported over longer distances, the cost of supply rises, increasing the importance of minimizing water losses. Leakage in water distribution networks-caused by pipe aging, poor repairs, and manufacturing defects-poses a major challenge. Although complete network renewal is a long-term solution, it is costly and often delayed due to infrastructure constraints. This study investigates a real-time pressure control method as a cost-effective alternative to reduce water losses. A case study was conducted in Sakarya, Türkiye, where the maximum inlet pressure of a distribution network was reduced from 70 m to 45 m using a real-time control system. Over a one-year period, a 19% reduction in water losses was recorded. The network was also modeled using EPANET hydraulic simulation software, showing a 2-4% difference between the measured and simulated pressure values. The findings confirm that real-time pressure management, when combined with accurate hydraulic modeling, offers a practical and efficient tool for reducing water losses and extending the service life of aging water networks especially in urban environments where full-scale infrastructure renewal is not feasible.