Georgian Water and Power (GWP), serving over 500,000 customers in the mountainous city of Tbilisi, faced substantial water losses of around 70 percent. The city’s complex water distribution network spans 3,600 kilometres and five vertical pressure zones, creating significant operational challenges. High elevation differences led to excessive pressure in the system, resulting in frequent pipe bursts, leakages and inefficient use of energy and water. Reducing NRW and optimising electricity consumption became a priority for the utility.

To improve system performance, GWP partnered with Danish valve manufacturer AVK to install 500 high-quality pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) throughout the network. These valves help manage pressure from elevated reservoirs and prevent damaging water hammer events. By adjusting the pressure across different zones, GWP aimed to create a more stable and efficient water supply. After installing the first 235 valves, the utility began to see notable improvements in system performance and resource efficiency.

Initial results showed a 10 percent reduction in electricity consumption and a decrease in pumped water volumes by 27.7 million cubic metres per year. This corresponds to a 50 percent reduction in NRW. In addition to these savings, the PRVs also lowered operational and maintenance costs and reduced pipe bursts by approximately 25 percent, contributing to a more resilient and cost-effective water supply for Tbilisi.