FAQs/Industry jargon buster
There’s a lot of jargon in our industry, so we’ve put together this handy guide for the most commonly used water industry phrases and acronyms.
AMP (Asset Management Plan)
This is a five year timeframe that allows the regulator in the UK – Ofwat – to make acceptable price reviews for privately managed water companies and to evaluate performance indicators related to the operation of each of the water utilities
arboricity™
An integrated real-time network modelling and monitoring service to help water operators secure the management of their distribution systems while reducing leakage and disruptive pipeline bursts
CP (Critical point)
The point in a zone where pressure is closest to the minimum allowable pressure
CML (Customer minutes lost)
The average number of minutes per year that a customer does not receive any water, or water of a quality that doesn’t meet legal standards
DMA (District Metered Area)
A discrete part of a water distribution network. It is usually created by closing boundary valves or by permanently disconnecting pipes to neighbouring areas
Inflowsys™
A combination of high frequency pressure monitoring devices and an enhanced data management platform, to enable water utilities to continuously monitor, analyse and optimise the performance of their water distribution networks and critical assets
NRW (Non Revenue Water)
Is water that has been produced and is ‘lost’ before it reaches the customer. This can be based on real losses such as leaks, or apparent losses such as metering inaccuracies
Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority)
Is a non-ministerial government department in the UK responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales
PMA (Pressure Managed Area)
Is defined as a zone for which the supply of water is regulated with a pressure-regulated control fitting
PRV (Pressure Reducing Valve)
Helps to regulate the water pressure and provide pressure control across a water distribution network
