In the city of Odense, water utility VCS Denmark has been supplying the city with clean drinking water since 1853. VCS Denmark operates five waterworks, eight wastewater treatment plants and 3,400 kilometres of pipeline networks. VCS Denmark realized early that the utility faced the challenge of reducing NRW and maintaining the integrity of an ageing distribution system. Therefore, in the early 1990’s, a complete pipeline renovation program was launched.

As a result of this, VCS Denmark has for the past 20 years maintained a NRW level of approximately 5 percent and an annual average of 80 pipe bursts across its 1,000 kilometres water distribution network. This consistently low level has been achieved through robust asset management practices, covering both operations and maintenance, and long-term planning.

The first completed DMA included 6.3 kilometres of main pipes and 529 service connections. Half of all main pipes and service connections were replaced with a fully welded HDPE system. After the replacements, NRW was below 5 percent and in zones with full replacement, there were no leakages detected. These results demonstrate VCS Denmark’s commitment to operational excellence and its ability to deliver reliable, efficient and sustainable water services.