Tackling water leakage smartly

A new modular sensor-based solution for water leakage detection from cracked water pipes has been launched by Austrian pipe solution provider Pipelife.

The solution, SmartProbe, which was developed with water suppliers in the Netherlands, is designed to be easily installed in any non-trafficable and hard-to-reach points in the water network and can be equipped with sensors of the customer’s choice.

With non-revenue water potentially significant, in Europe averaging around 25% but for example estimated as high as 60% in Bulgaria, leak detection is becoming increasingly important for water utilities. And especially where the water infrastructure is ageing.

However, while a range of new technologies have emerged for leak detection, from hardware options such as acoustic detection and pressure monitoring to advanced analytics and machine learning, often these cannot be placed densely enough along a network due to site constraints or limited possibilities for power supply.

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Pipelife’s solution is aimed for use in these areas in networks that otherwise would remain unmonitored.

Various plug-and-play sensors are available for measuring pressure, temperature, pH, conductivity and turbidity, to enable utilities to establish a complete picture of their network and execute better operation and maintenance decisions.

Maurice Meester, New Energy Product Manager at Pipelife, says pressure sensors currently dominate the wish lists from utilities.

“These sensors are simple and require minimal maintenance; therefore, when utilities embark on their path of digitalisation, they typically begin here. Data on pressure changes can be utilised in leak detection, asset management and maintenance, as well as when it comes to enhancing the network’s overall efficiency.”

The SmartProbe solution is fully modular and battery powered and can be installed directly on PE, PVC or cast iron pipes anywhere in the water supply system within non-trafficable zones in les than three hours.

With a flush valve, the installation can be done without interrupting the water supply or risking contamination.

The SmartProbe can be integrated into preexisting third-party data management systems and also can be combined with Pipelife’s SmartHub cloud-based monitoring platform for data analysis and visualisation.

Pipelife reports that more than 70 SmartProbe units have already been installed on the waterlines in the Netherlands and Sweden and the first projects in Austria and Serbia are underway.

This number is expected to rapidly increase with the Dutch water utility Brabant Water planning to start an over 700 unit rollout in August as part of an initiative to develop a digital twin of its 18,000km supply network. The data points are expected to be operational in all 100 district-metered areas of its network by the end of 2025.

Under Europe’s revised drinking water directive, which came into force in January 2021, water utilities supplying at least 10,000m3 per day or serving at least 50,000 people are expected to provide information on their performance efficiency and leakage rates.

In addition, water leakage levels have to be assessed by all member states and reduced if they exceed the EC set yet-to-be-determined threshold.