Verified measurement standards for municipal water loss reduction

U.S. drinking water systems alone lose an estimated 6 billion cubic meters annually through distribution system losses, imposing disproportionate costs on low-income ratepayers while generating unquantified energy and carbon externalities. This project develops a peer-reviewed measurement and verification protocol for quantifying reductions in municipal non-revenue water, integrated with legal analysis of water rights compatibility and a governance framework for independent third-party assurance. Industry partner AquaShares Inc. provides field validation across active utility programs. Deliverables include peer-reviewed methodology documentation, a legal-regulatory compatibility analysis, and a governance white paper.