Lisbon is located in Southern Europe, a region that is generally identified as one to be likely affected by droughts if current climate change scenarios do occur. Over the last 40 years, Lisbon geographic area has witnessed an increase in the rainfall variability. Projections up to the end of the century agree that these trends will intensify. Leakage reduction at the distribution network arises as one of the most significant adaptation measures to be implemented.

Therefore Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres (EPAL), the oldest water utility company in Portugal, has developed a leakage monitoring program to optimize the water supply efficiency of Lisbon’s distribution network. The program identifies and locates potential leakages by comparing datasets of water use (expected vs. real-time use). It has made the water supply system more efficient and profitable by preventing non-revenue water (i.e. leaked water): the cumulative savings for EPAL since 2005 amount to around €68 million.