Dicle University Engineering Faculty, Civil Engineering Department, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey

Speech Title: The Advantages of ZFT Algorithm in Determining Water Losses in Water – Networks
Abstract
Paralleling to the rise in both world population and water trade, and development in technology, global changes in climate, water amount per capita decreases. Although, there are many alternatives in supplying foods, energy etc., however there is not thing to be alternative to water. Therefore, the fresh water resources should be effectively used. For this reason, water losses in water-networks have to be controlled as well as reduced without any cost-avoidance. For the best control, first water losses in water-networks should be realistically determined. For the goal, Zoom Function Technique (ZFT) was introduced first by Toprak et al. (2013). The algorithm consists of several mathematical steps to estimate the water losses in any water-networks. The algorithm needs only two sorts of data: 1) main settlement (province, city etc.) data: population, recorded annual water production (m3/year), and recorded annual water consumption (m3/year), 2) sub settlement (town, street, district, quarters etc.) data: population and recorded monthly water consumption (m3/month) of sub settlement. In this speech, the advantages and disadvantages of the ZFT algorithm are discussed. Toprak et al. (2013) applied the algorithm to drinking water – network of Diyarbakir city center. The advantages of the algorithm can be arranged that, 1) the accuracy of the model estimation is very high; 2) the algorithm is scientifically generalizable, 3) logically acceptable, 4) mathematically accurate, 5) technically applicable, and 6) easily usable. Therefore, it is possible to propose it confidently for determining water losses in water - networks.