Abstract
Performance indicators are measures of the efficiency and effectiveness of the water utilities with regard to specific aspects of the utility’s activity and of the system’s behaviour. Efficiency is a measure of the extent to which the resources of a water utility are utilised optimally to produce the service, while effectiveness is a measure of the extend to which the targeted objectives (specifically and realistically defined) are achieved. Each performance indicator expresses the level of actual performance achieved in a certain area and during a given period of time, allowing for a clear cut comparison with targeted objectives and simplifying an otherwise complex analysis. They can be applied at different levels. Within the water utility, the use of performance indicators is growing in importance as the basis for assessing the efficiency (ratio between input consumed and output achieved) and effectiveness of the utility as a whole and of its management units. Such measures can be used to trace the trend in the performance of a given unit over a period of time as well as to make performance comparisons between similar units. Within the country, performance indicators are applicable at a regional or at a national level. Within the supra-national regions, performance indicators allow for comparing different countries of the same or of different regions of the world.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adamsson, J. (1997) - The Swedish experience and viewpoints,IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Alegre, H. (1997) - Performance indicators - current trends, workshop “Public-private partnership for African Water Utilities”, Water Utility Partnership, World Bank, Kampala, Uganda.
Alegre, H.; BAPTISTA, J. M. (1997) - Indicadores de desempenho de sistemas de distribuiçâo de âgua: uma questâo de modo ou de necessidade?, “Revista Indtstria da Agua”, No. 25 ( Oct./Nov./Dez. 1997 ), EPAL, Lisboa.
Alegre, H. Hirner, W., Baptista, J. M. Cubillo F. (1997) - Proposal for basic and performance indicators for water supply,2nd draft, September 1997, IWSA Operations and Maintenance Committee, Task Force 8 - “Performance Indicators”, Lisbon, Portugal.
Alegre H. Baptista, J. M., Faria A. L. (1997) - A general framework of performance indicators in the scope of water supply,IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Alegre, H. Almeida, M. C. (1995) - Framework for the assessment of levels-of-service,Vol. 12 of the series “Management of water supply, waste water and solid waste systems”, ed. Jaime Melo Baptista and Maria Rafaela Matos, LNEC, Lisbon (167 pp.).
Allison, P. (1997) - Keeping the customer happy, editorial of the Journal “World Water and Environmental Engineering”, Vol. 20, No. 7, July 1997.
Coelho, S. T. (1997A) - Performance analysis in water distribution,IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Coelho, T. (1997B) - Performance indicators in water supply - a systems approach,Series Water Engineering and management systems, Research Studies Press, John Wiley and Sons, UK.
Cubillo, F. (1997) - Information systems: a key factor to manage performance indicators, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Djerrari, F. (1997) - Survey analysis on the main indicators for utilities, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
DEB, A. AND Cesarig L. (1997) - Water distribution systems performance assessment, funded by the AWWA Research Foundation, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Faria, A. L., Alegre, H. (1996) - Paving the way to excellence in water supply systems: a national framework for levels-of-service assessment based on consumer satisfaction,The Maarten Schalekamp Award - 1995, AQUA, Vol. 45, n. 1, February 1996, IWSA, London, UK (pp. 1–12) and.
Hansen, G. (1997) - Technical, operational and economic performance indicators of water utilities, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Harries C. (1997) - The UK experience of performance indicators from a regulatory and operational viewpoint, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Hirner, W. (1997a) - Technical, operational and economic performance indicators of water utilities, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Hirner, W. (1997b) - Unaccounted-for water, workshop “Public-private partnership for African Water Utilities”, Water Utility Partnership, World Bank, Kampala, Uganda.
Iliyas, M. (1997) - WUP Project No. 2: Performance indicators project, workshop “Public-private partnership for African Water Utilities”, Water Utility Partnership, World Bank, Kampala, Uganda.
Iwsa (1997) - International statistics for water supply, published for the IWSA Congress 1997, Madrid, Spain.
Janssens, J., Pintelon, L., Cotton, A., Gelders, L. (1994) - Development of a framework for the assessment of operation and maintenace (OandM) performance of urban water supply and sanitation, IWSA Specialised Conference on “The quality of service (or Managing a Water Company)”, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jerusalem Water Undertaking (1995) - Performance prospects, Jerusalem Water Undertaking - Ramallah District, Palestinian Territories.
Malaysian Water Association (1996), Performance indicators for water supply,a proposal from the Malaysian Water Association for the consideration of member countries of ASPAC.
Matos, M. R.; BICUDO, J. R.; ALEGRE, H. (1993) - “Technical and social-economical indicators in the scope of water supply, wastewater and solid waste systems ”,in Preparatory study for the definition of selection criteria for environmental projects to be funded by the European Communities,Vol. 2, project contracted by the European Commission, report 107/93, LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal (43 pp.).
Mcintosh, A. C.; Ynoguez, C. (1997) Second Water Utiliies Data Book -Asian and Pacific Region, Asian Deveplmen Bank’s Regional Technical Assistance No. 5694, Manila, Philippines.
Oatridge, J. W. (1997) - Understanding and satisfying customer expectations, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal. OFWAT (1996) - 1995–96 Report on levels-of-service for to water industry in England and Wales, Office of Water Services, United Kingdom. Ofwat (1996) - 1995–96 Report on the cost of water delivered and sewage collected, Office of Water Services, United Kingdom.
Parsons, D. P. (1997) - Managing benefits of mains rehabilitation through structured surveys, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Skarda, B. C. (1997) - The Swiss experience with performance indicators and special viewpoints on water networks, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
The Malaysian Water Association (1996) - Performance indicators for water supply, a proposal from the Malaysian Water Association for the consideration of member countries of ASPAC.
Van Der Willigen, F. (1997) - Dutch experience and viewpoints on performance indicators, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Yeppes, G., Dianderas, A. (1996) - Water and wastewater utilities indicators, Water and Sanitation Division, The World Bank.
Yeppes, G., Dianderas, A. (1997) - The role of indicators to guide unaccounted-for water reduction programs, IWSA Workshop on Performance Indicators for Transmission and Distribution Systems, Lisbon, Portugal.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this paper
Cite this paper
Alegre, H. (1999). Performance Indicators for Water Supply Systems. In: Cabrera, E., García-Serra, J. (eds) Drought Management Planning in Water Supply Systems. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 32. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1297-2_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1297-2_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5119-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1297-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive