Sustainability of Public Water Networks in Romania:Assessment of Failures and Network Expansion

Sustainability in public water infrastructure requires balanced investment, efficient management, and long-term resilience against failure and degradation.This article evaluates the sustainability of public water distribution networks in Romania, based on technical performance indicators from 43 regional operators.The analysis focuses on pipeline failures, distribution network failures, and network length, using hierarchical cluster methods to identify operational differences.Results show notable disparities between operators, with a small number exhibiting high failure rates and infrastructure stress.Most operators fall within a more uniform performance range.These findings underline the importance of differentiated infrastructure strategies and informed investment planning.Such approaches are essential in reducing non-revenue water, improving cost-efficiency, and enhancing service quality.The study contributes to improving decision-making processes for water sector governance, supporting the alignment of technical management practices with sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.