The proportion of water that is lost in transmission from source to end use due to leaky pipes. Water pipe leakage is applied to piped water demand and the combined sewer system.
Used to calculate:leaky pipes
Varies by: lifestyle
| Used | lifestyle | Reference | Location: Ecosystem (study period) |
Value | Units | Notes |
|---|
| * | Average American | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0.2 | proportion (0-1) | see average earthling |
| * | Average Earthling | Lerner 2002 Identifying and quantifying urban recharge: a review | Global: Cities () | 0.2 | proportion (0-1) | "...leakage [rates] of 20–25% are common, and rates up to 50% have been observed (Lerner 1986a), causing large amounts of recharge." |
| Average Earthling | Lerner 2002 Identifying and quantifying urban recharge: a review | Goteburg, Sweden: Urban ecosystem () | 0.26 | proportion (0-1) | see Norin (2002) | |
| Average Earthling | Lerner 2002 Identifying and quantifying urban recharge: a review | Lima, Peru: Urban ecosystem () | 0.5 | proportion (0-1) | also see Lerner (1986) | |
| Average Earthling | Lerner 2002 Identifying and quantifying urban recharge: a review | Tomsk, Russia: Urban ecosystem () | 0.15 | proportion (0-1) | In Tomsk, Russia, 4–11 leaks develop every year per kilometer of water main, leading to leakage rates of 15–30% (Pokrovsky et al. 1999) | |
| * | Average New Yorker | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0.2 | proportion (0-1) | See average earthling |
| * | Eco-conscious | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0.1 | proportion (0-1) | assumed to be half of the average earthling value because of better investments in water and sewer mains |
| * | Lenape Person | Assumed | New York City: Mannahatta () | 0 | proportion (0-1) | No water pipes, no water leaks! |