ABSTRACT Graphical abstract. A world map highlights regions at risk, with a droplet icon showing '1.8B' to indicate 1.8 billion people exist in areas facing severe water shortages and the text '2025 water scarcity projection.' Ethiopia’s map marks Hawassa City with a star. A pipe diagram contrasts water loss labeled 'Non-Revenue Water (NRW)' with 'Billed water.' A line graph depicts NRW reduction over time: 63% in 2020, 59% in 2021, 53% in 2023, and 49% in 2024. Research indicates that by the year 2025, around 1.8 billion people will exist in areas facing severe water shortages. One of the factors exacerbating this issue is non-revenue water (NRW), which signifies the global wastage of water resources. This study evaluated the current status of NRW within the urban water utility of Hawassa City, located in the Sidama region of Ethiopia, south of Addis Ababa in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. A comprehensive data collection strategy was employed, combining both primary and secondary sources to examine public water supplies, including their production and consumption in Hawassa City. The research utilized the top–down water balance method, a well-established technique for measuring NRW. Throughout the 5-year assessment period, the peak NRW recorded was 63% in 2020, while the minimum was 43% in 2024. Five years earlier, nearly two-thirds of the water produced was lost. Nevertheless, this situation has seen gradual improvement, now at just under half (43%). Despite this progress, a considerable amount of produced water continues to be lost as NRW, underscoring the pressing need for intervention. A more in-depth analysis of specific areas of water loss categorized as NRW is recommended for formulating more effective solutions.
WM-Bekele et al. (2026) studied this question.