About us

The mission of the Leakage Forum, run by the Exeter University's Centre for Water Systems, is to provide an online facility for academic and industrial partners to collaborate and discuss ideas related to the identification and control of Water Losses / leakage in water distribution systems. By utilising the latest web technologies, the Leakage Forum aims to increase information dissemination in the leakage area and provide a knowledge-based service for companies to enable them to reduce water losses and provide improved service for all. The following timeline explains the activities related to the setting up of the Forum.

2001-2003

The forum has resulted in part from the activities of an EPSRC, funded network, ACTUI. The main aim of this network was to enhance research by providing a dedicated network for the exchange and interchange of ideas between academia and industry in the area of advanced computer technology for the simulation and optimisation of clean water and waste water systems. The network was funded for a period of 3 years (April 2001-March 2003).

2003-2005

As a follow-on from ACTUI activities, discussions between a group of leading water industry practitioners have concluded that there is a need for the creation of a Forum through which experiences can be exchanged, data, best practice shared, and solutions to existing or anticipated leakage / water loss problems can be explored or commissioned. One of the main drivers for the Forum was the acknowledgment that industry is unable to exploit the substantial body of academic research undertaken nationally and internationally on a range of topics germane to leakage, and that there is no vehicle for the Water Industry to influence or prioritise the research areas or product development direction. A major reason for this is the absence of a central body that can identify where the research is undertaken, evaluate what results have been produced, and distil the findings such that they can be readily assimilated by industrial practitioners.

2005-2006

Severn Trent Water has indicated its interest in developing a suitable web-based Forum, and have provided start-up funding for this purpose. A collaboration between the Centre for Water Systems and Severn Trent Water has seen the launch of this new discussion forum dedicated to leakage in the water industry. However, access to the discussion forum and material on the web site were restricted to paying members only (Academic, Water Industry Practitioner, and Equipment Suppliers & Consultants). This caused some difficulties with activities on the forum, and with the agreement of the backing partners a new and free Leakage Forum was envisaged.

2007

The Leakage Forum has been relaunched in 2007 and access to its content is FREE. If you are interested in the latest research or developments related to leakage do not hesitate to join our fast growing community of academics, consultants and practitioners. Register now here.