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The Naivasha Water and Sanitation Company (NAIVAWASCO) initiated a non-revenue water (NRW) reduction project between July 2023 and June 2024 to tackle high levels of water loss. At the start of the project, NRW stood at 40%, significantly above the recommended benchmark of 25%. 

To address these inefficiencies, NAIVAWASCO implemented targeted interventions. These measures included network rehabilitation, meter servicing, and meter replacement, aiming to reduce physical losses. 

Quantifying the Impact 

The project’s performance was evaluated using both the Water Footprint Network (WFN) methodology and the ISO 14046 standard. 

WFN Method: 

• 4,818 m³ of physical water saved per year 
• 5.10 CAPs annually (25.3 CAPs over five years) 
• €541.20 per CAP annually 

ISO 14046 Method: 

• Incorporating regional water stress factors, this approach produced a higher impact factor 
• 7.22 CAP equivalents annually (36.1 CAP equivalents over five years) 
• €379.00 per CAP equivalent  

These results demonstrate that targeted physical interventions can generate some water savings and measurable compensation benefits. 

Social and Environmental Co-Benefits 

Beyond direct water savings, the project generated a range of additional benefits: 

• Improved Water Equity: By reducing physical losses, more water reaches communities, helping ease local tensions over access. 
• Economic Opportunities: The project created jobs through local contracting for network rehabilitation and maintenance. 
• Cost Savings: Reduced water losses mean less reliance on costly abstraction and treatment infrastructure, improving the utility’s financial sustainability. 
• Lower Energy Use: Minimising losses reduces the energy required for pumping and treatment, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions. 

These co-benefits were integrated into the CAP calculations through a multiplication factor, acknowledging their broader sustainability value. 

Looking Ahead 

The NAIVAWASCO NRW reduction project is an example of how targeted, data-driven interventions can deliver both water savings and broader societal gains. By focusing on physical water loss in critical network areas, the utility has set a strong foundation for continued NRW reduction and improved operational performance. 

As water scarcity challenges intensify, projects like NAIVAWASCO’s demonstrate the practical potential of water footprint compensation mechanisms to enhance local water security, support communities, and reduce environmental impacts.