In a modest room in Beira, Mozambique, 14 men and women lean over notebooks and blueprints. Some scribble calculations; others follow a trainer pointing to a wall chart outlining water flow. This is no ordinary workshop. It’s part of a targeted effort to tackle the world’s most pervasive but invisible water crises: non-revenue water (NRW).
Here, in the heart of Mozambique’s WSUP, is quietly equipping local water utility AdRC Beira with the tools and knowledge to tackle leaks that bleed the system dry—literally and financially.
“It’s the invisible flood. Water is pumped, treated, and pressurised. Then it disappears underground through leaks before it ever reaches a single household,” says Cármen Sing Sang, WSUP’s Water Project Manager – Beira, overseeing the initiative.
Globally, the scale of the problem is staggering. A World Bank report estimates that 32 billion cubic metres of treated water are lost yearly through physical leaks, half of which is in developing countries. That’s the equivalent of 13 million Olympic-sized swimming pools or, more tangibly, water enough to serve 90 million people annually if losses were halved.
These are not merely drops in the ocean. According to the World Bank, the economic cost of non-revenue water exceeds US$3 billion annually in the developing world. For many utilities operating on tight budgets, it’s like filling a bucket with holes.
In Beira, WSUP’s initiative is helping plug those holes, starting small but aiming big. The current training programme focuses on discrete managed areas (DMAs), sectorised zones within the water network where flow can be monitored and controlled more effectively. It’s a tried and tested method in urban water management, especially where blanket surveillance is impossible.
Three of the most promising trainees from the original 14 have been selected to continue with implementation and peer training, building internal expertise within AdRC Beira. Practical sessions have included installation and usage of digital pressure gauges, nd remote flow reading loggers, tools often out of reach for many African utilities unless supported by external funding.
“These are foundational steps,” explains Cármen. “But with more support, we can expand training and bring in equipment that the utility can eventually own and manage themselves. It’s about creating self-reliance, not dependency.”
Despite the clear economic and environmental benefits, NRW remains a stubborn challenge. Experts point to a cocktail of reasons: limited utility capacity, lack of incentives, and the overwhelming appeal of building new infrastructure over the unglamorous grind of tracking leaks.
“There’s still this belief that expanding supply is the answer to scarcity. But in reality, managing losses is far more cost-effective and sustainable. Especially as climate shocks intensify and cities face increasing water stress,” says Cármen.
NRW management doesn’t just improve service quality and utility finances. It also helps build climate resilience, reduce energy use, and decrease pressure on dwindling water sources. These gains are more urgent than ever in fragile coastal cities like Beira, prone to cyclones and sea-level rise. The Beira pilot reflects a broader shift in WSUP’s work in Mozambique. Beyond physical infrastructure, the organisation invests in human infrastructure, strengthening institutions, transferring skills, and building local ownership.
But sustaining this work requires ongoing investment. “We’re counting on additional funding to scale the programme. But we’re also ensuring that the water utility feels ownership and responsibility. We’re not just patching pipes, we’re changing mindsets,” says Cármen.
That quiet classroom in Beira may not make headlines. But if the leaks it aims to stop are any indication, the biggest impacts often happen where no one is looking.