Assessment of the economic and water leakage efficiency in Chilean urban water utilities

Abstract

This study evaluates the economic and water leakage efficiency (ELE) of a sample of Chilean water companies using efficiency analysis trees (EAT). The potential savings in operating costs and leakage could reach a level of 58%. This is equivalent to a reduction in operating costs of & POUND;391.5 million per year and in water leakage of 20.6 million cubic metres per year. A downward trend in ELE scores was observed from 2007 to 2018. It was revealed that customer density and the source of raw water had a statistically significant impact on the ELE of water companies.