Rosvodokanal Group, which operates seven water supply utilities in Russia and one in Ukraine, hired Arison Group company Miya to conduct an audit of water losses in the vodocanal utility in the Kaluga region.

This month, Miya will start work to detect water leaks and implement leakage monitoring systems, Aquaexpert reports. After the audit is complete, Miya and Kaluga Vodocanal will jointly develop and implement a strategy to reduce water losses in the city and other water supply systems in the region.

Vodocanal Kaluga was notorious for accidents at its water pipelines at the end of 2008 which resulted in major water leaks on the city streets and water supply cut-offs lasting several days, Regnum reported.

The project to reduce water losses in Kaluga is a pilot project for Rosvodokanal, which intends to implement similar programs in all the utilities it currently operates, according to Aquaexpert.

Voice of Russia quoted Orenburg Mayor Yuri Mesheryakov as saying Rosvodokanal is currently implementing the technologies that will lead to reduced water losses at Orenburg Vodocanal utility as well.

According to Mesheryakov, the water losses at Orenburg Vodocanal decreased by 20 percent due to installing PVC water pipe instead of steel pipe, as well as reducing the time needed to eliminate water leaks.