Report shows how leakage technology is advancing
Sep 27, 2023
Any water loss through leaking pipes is unacceptable in the eyes of the public, and on the launch of a deep-dive leakage report from Ovarro, technology leader for leakage solutions, Barbara Hathaway, explains how technologies continue to advance.
Across most parts of the world, water utilities have been tackling chronic water losses over recent decades but the world population is increasing and with this, demand for water, all while we are experiencing more severe droughts. Ideally, in the future, water utilities and municipalities should be aiming for near zero leakage from water networks.
As I explain in Ovarro’s new deep dive report the Future of Leakage, if we are to achieve such an ambitious goal, water utilities need to continue to invest in innovation, support new ideas and share findings. Of course, when it comes to leakage reduction, the sector has not always got it right. Around 70 years ago, it was thought one solution was to replace corroding metal water mains with new plastic pipes, which would never leak. We now know this is not the case. Plastic pipes can leak and the noise the escaping water generates is quieter, lower frequency and harder to detect than that from a metal pipe.
This created a new challenge, but in response, technology adapted to focus on internal pipe sensors to listen for noise. One example is Ovarro’s Enigma lift-and-shift logger, which was designed 18 years ago, but remains a go-to device for leakage technicians, providing reliable overnight correlation results to pinpoint precise leak locations. Technology continues to advance. In 2022, LeakNavigator launched as the UK’s first fully-managed, fixed network leakage service, moving us further forward.
Globally, more and more utilities are adopting data-powered tools, which are transforming network management. Products that apply artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as cloud-based, as-a-service models, are recent additions to the Ovarro portfolio, developed in collaboration with the sector to address their current and future challenges. Considerable research is also underway into prioritising leak noise, allowing operators to understand which noises picked up by acoustic loggers are most likely to be large leaks.
Ovarro’s LeakHub system has already been updated to filter electrical interference generated noise and other man-made sounds such as pressure reducing valves, mechanical water meters and air conditioning units. The last two years have been an incredibly challenging time for industries that rely on electronics, with supply chain shortages impacting many technology companies, including Ovarro.
Thankfully, these problems are starting to ease and we can renew focus on researching and developing next generation products for leakage reduction. Our report sets out Ovarro solutions and looks ahead at what is to come. Water utilities investing in new leakage technology should consider all available options and business cases, rather than take the default view that lower cost or higher volume is best.
A few strategically placed devices in problem areas could provide a better return than flooding an area with a single product and expecting it to solve every problem. Each technology has its place, and it is worth keeping an open mind about what would provide the most effective overall solution for a particular network. Now is an exciting time for water technology. The water crisis is forcing us to answer new questions urgently, but it is not a solo mission. Liaison between utilities, suppliers, innovators, academics and governments will be the only way to drive through new ideas at the rate we need. Technology, used in the right way, has never been more critical.
More News and Articles
Apr 26, 2024
News
Bothar’s cutting head innovation
The trenchless industry in Australia continues to grow and the need to provide customised solutions becomes vital for a leading subsurface contractor.
Recognising the need for advanced solutions to meet the growing …
Apr 24, 2024
News
Sustainable drainage solutions: German Start-up transforms urban water management.
Germany boasts a well-established infrastructure for managing rainwater and wastewater, yet many developing countries lack such systems. Addressing this gap, …
Apr 22, 2024
News
HDD tooling that gets the job done
Horizontal directional drilling is a dynamic process that constantly changes and adapts to suit a range of applications across utilities and infrastructure. Operators looking to get the most from their equipment …
Apr 19, 2024
News
WATCH: Overnight with SAERTEX-LINER H20 in São Paulo
Available through Pipe Core, high-quality liner SAERTEX-LINER H20 performed under pressure in São Paulo, Brazil.
Maintaining aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant challenge …
Apr 17, 2024
News
Immersive media provides wastewater experience in Denmark
An immersive media experience (IMX) may not be what most people want when they think about industrial wastewater, but that is exactly what visitors can expect when they visit a new installation …
Apr 15, 2024
News
Spotlight on gender diversity at Pipe Core
Since founding in 2008, Pipe Core’s team has grown across all areas of the business and is now in a position where there are more females than males across the organisation. Research published in Harvard …
Apr 12, 2024
News
New Wave of Startups Scale Innovation to Solve Global Water Challenges
Innovators from Around the World Join Xylem’s 2024 Accelerator Program to Deploy Breakthrough Innovations for Utilities and Industrial Users of Water
A new group of startups …
Apr 08, 2024
News
Integrated sustainable electricity and clean drinking water systems
Altitude Water and New Use Energy Solutions have partnered to create integrated, mobile solar-plus-water generation systems that produce sustainable electricity and clean drinking …
Apr 05, 2024
News
How to Evaluate Hydraulic Fracture Risk in HDD Design
The design of horizontal directional drill (HDD) installations often requires an evaluation of the potential for hydraulic fracture of the soil layers through which an HDD passes. Evaluating …
Apr 02, 2024
News
Historic Project Linking Rome and Vatican City Uses Advanced Technology and Local Knowledge to Keep Water Flowing
Relocation of Major Sewer Infrastructure Enables Construction of Pedestrian Link for 35 Million Visitors to the 2025 Jubilee
Water …
Mar 27, 2024
News
USU Study Looks at Water Main Break Rates in the U.S. and Canada
Report Highlights Correlation Between Material and Diameter
Utah State University (USU) has published new research on water main breaks in the United States and Canada, examining …
Mar 26, 2024
News
Update BE-21: New Material in Course and Modules on Trenchless Pipe Installation
Online training on the topic of pipeline installation in civil engineering: Trenchless technology for underground drainage construction can be a resource-efficient, …
Contact
WiseOnWater
Leilah Nicola
St George’s Place,
BN1 4GB Brighton
United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 7464 262555