GB’s South West Water looks to space for leak detection

South West Water has teamed with California satellite data analysts ASTERRA and local partner Suez to use satellite data to detect underground water leaks.

The satellite data collected is comprised of microwave images of the Earth, which are then subject to analysis to detect leaks.

As microwaves can penetrate up to 2m underground, the data will highlight potential leaks which may not be showing above ground.

“We are continually working to improve our leakage performance and are on track to meet our leakage reduction plan, using innovative technology to identify leaks,” says Wayne Arscott, Leakage Delivery Manager at South West Water.

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“We maintain enough underground water pipes to reach Australia if laid end to end and investing in technology like this is key to helping us achieve our challenging leakage reduction targets.”

Leakage is a major concern for water utilities, in many locations amounting to one third or more of treated water and besides the loss of a precious resource represents a potentially significant loss of revenue.

South West Water, which provides water and wastewater services in Cornwall and Devon and small parts of Dorset and Somerset, does not seem to publicise its leakage levels but is targeting a minimum 15% reduction with a £50 million ($65 million) investment by 2025.

The company reports doubling its number of leak detection staff and significantly increasing the number of customer leakage technicians in the last two years.

Among other actions, the company also is using acoustic loggers on the network that ‘listen’ for leaks 24/7.

ASTERRA, which is working with its UK partner Suez, has pioneered the use of microwave imaging for water and wastewater leak detection, following its development for the search for underground water on Mars and other planets.

ASTERRA, formerly Utilis, claims its leak detection technology ‘Recover’ has detected more than 46,000 leaks since 2016, saving over 155,000Ml of drinkable water and 85,000MWh of energy annually.

Another British water supply company, South Staffs Water, which supplies Staffordshire and the West Midlands, has implemented the Recover application with Suez and reported saving 2Ml of water per day.