Creating impact: Collaborative solutions to reduce NRW in Mali

Tackling Mali’s Non-Revenue Water issues

Non-revenue water is one of the major issues in Mali's water sector. On average, SOMAGEP (Société Malienne de Gestion de l'Eau Potable), Mali's national water utility, is dealing with a non-revenue percentage of 40%. This means that 40% of their revenue is lost due to leakages and unbilled consumption. Not only does the NRW strain the financial health of SOMAGEP, but it also depletes the already scarce water resources. Reducing NRW is therefore critical for a sustainable water management sector. From 2018 onwards, World Waternet has worked together with SOMAGEP to reduce NRW in Bamako under the WaterWorX project. To expand our work on NRW, we started a partnership with the Moroccan water utility ONEE (Office National De L'electricite Et De L'eau Potable) and SOMAGEP under the GWOPA umbrella in the EU-WOP project in 2022. The scope of the project is to decrease NRW in three secondary cities in Mali: Kati, Sikasso and Koutiala.

Concrete steps towards efficient Water Management

Over the last two years, various activities, training sessions and workshops have been organized in order to reduce NRW. It is sometimes the case that water companies lose track of their customer base; meaning clients who are connected to the system are not billed, regardless of their consumption being recorded. That is why we have conducted house to house surveys to update the database. In the process of conducting the surveys, we obtained more information about the water network, allowing for the implementation of District Meter Areas (DMAs).

Creating District Meter Areas

Water networks are inherently complex, with their vast infrastructure making it challenging to manage and monitor water usage effectively. One of the most impactful strategies for addressing this challenge is the implementation of District Metered Areas (DMAs). By dividing the network into smaller, manageable segments, DMAs allow for accurate tracking of water inflow versus measured consumption within each area. This approach provides a clear picture of water usage and helps identify discrepancies that point to Non-Revenue Water (NRW) caused by unbilled consumption or physical losses through leakages.

DMAs provide even more control in tracking NRW through the use of night-time minimum flow measurements, which allow for a precise distinction between water lost to leaks and water consumed but not accounted for. This level of precision has played a crucial role in reducing NRW in our projects, improving efficiency and ensuring that more water reaches its intended

Building expertise for lasting impact

Capacity building is a cornerstone of our projects, reflecting our commitment to fostering resilient and self-sufficient water systems. Empowering local water utilities and authorities to achieve operational excellence ensures the sustainability of interventions like the establishment of District Metered Areas (DMAs) and strategies to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW). These approaches rely heavily on advanced hydrological modelling, robust operational knowledge, and proactive problem-solving. Recognising this, training local staff is integral to our Mali project, ensuring that the expertise required to manage these interventions becomes locally embedded.

ONEE spearheaded specialised training sessions in Rabat and Bamako, designed to enhance the capacity of SOMAGEP staff in detecting and addressing Non-Revenue Water (NRW). As part of this initiative, two SOMAGEP staff members also travelled to Amsterdam to participate in hands-on training in hydraulic modelling, facilitated by World Waternet.

Remarkable results: transforming Mali’s Water Sector

All these activities have contributed to a better understanding of the water network and of leak detection. As a result, we were able to increase the billing efficiency by 10%, to 99%. In addition, we reduced the NRW by 15% on average. However, it should be noted that the latest results were measured during the dry season. During  the dry season, there is less water available for production. As a result, the water pressure in the water network is lower, resulting in fewer leaks. Nevertheless, a reduction of 15% is truly remarkable, and shows that we are taking steps in the right direction.

Expanding horizons: Phase two of the EU-WOP Project

The launch of EU-WOP phase two, celebrated during the World Urban Forum 12 (WUF) on 5th November, presents a pivotal opportunity to build on the achievements of phase one. While Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction remains a priority, this phase will broaden its impact by focusing on climate resilience and promoting social inclusion through equitable access to water. ONEE, SOMAGEP, and World Waternet are committed to replicating these successful activities in three additional cities, aiming to achieve similar results while further strengthening SOMAGEP’s capacity and financial health.

Stronger Together for a Resilient Future

This progress reflects the power of collaboration and shared responsibility, values that are at the heart of World Waternet’s mission. Through partnerships like those fostered by GWOPA and EU-WOP, we bring together knowledge, resources, and innovation to create meaningful and sustainable change. We extend our gratitude to our partners for their unwavering dedication and solidarity, which continues to drive impactful solutions in water management. Together, we are building a future where all communities thrive with resilient and inclusive water services.