Australia’s major telecommunications providers are shutting down their 3G networks throughout 2024. This has critical implications for water utilities and councils reliant on 3G-connected smart devices.
If your water infrastructure includes pressure loggers, PRV controllers, acoustic loggers, meter pulse loggers, or other remote monitoring systems, urgent action is needed. Aqua Analytics partners with water utilities and councils to seamlessly transition your connected water assets to the latest cellular protocols (Cat-M1, NB-IoT, and 5G).
The following legacy devices often rely on 3G and may be rendered obsolete if not upgraded:
We understand the water industry’s unique challenges. Our process is designed for minimal disruption:
Proactive action is crucial. Contact Aqua Analytics today for a free infrastructure assessment. We’ll help you navigate the 3G sunset and ensure your water utility stays ahead of the curve.
Airports are intricate hubs of activity, relying on a vast infrastructure network to facilitate smooth operations. Among the critical components of this infrastructure that are often forgotten about are buried water pipelines. These pipelines transport water for various purposes, such as drinking, fire suppression, irrigation, and industrial processes. Efficient management of these pipelines is paramount to ensuring uninterrupted water supply, reducing water loss, and achieving sustainability goals.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the strategies and technologies that can help airports effectively manage their buried water pipelines.
Water plays a pivotal role in airports, and here’s why:
Buried water pipelines present specific challenges in an airport environment:
Properly managing buried water pipelines is crucial for airports to ensure reliable water supply while minimising costs and environmental impact. Here are some key strategies:
1. Conducting a Comprehensive Water Audit
A water audit is the first step towards efficient water management. It involves a thorough assessment of:
2. Implementing Smart Infrastructure Software
Smart water network software empowers airports with real-time awareness of their water networks. This software can:
3. Deployment of Acoustic Loggers
Acoustic loggers are valuable for proactive real-time leak detection, particularly during off-peak hours.
4. Undertaking Pipeline Condition Assessments
Regular pipeline condition assessments provide critical information about buried pipelines’ structural integrity and remaining lifespan.
Besides the strategies above, here are some additional practices airports can adopt:
Managing buried water pipelines within airport precincts requires a strategic and proactive approach. By incorporating the strategies outlined in this blog post – water audits, smart water infrastructure, leak detection technologies, condition assessments, and other best practices – airports can safeguard their water resources, improve operational efficiency, and embrace sustainability.
Contact us today for a free consultation on how Aqua Analytics can help you manage your buried assets throughout your airport precinct.
Aqua Analytics, a company dedicated to helping water utilities reduce non-revenue water and manage leakage, is celebrating a successful year with a unique twist: Leak Lager.
This limited edition brew, crafted using water identified as leakage by Aqua’s skilled teams, serves as a toast to the impressive 11 billion litres saved and 3,500 leaks plugged by Aqua in 2023 across Australia and New Zealand.
Beyond being a celebratory drink, Leak Lager is a conversation starter.
Each can sent to clients and suppliers is a tangible reminder of the power of sustainability, innovation, and unconventional thinking. It highlights the positive impact that can be achieved through collaboration and commitment to solving critical water challenges.
“Leak Lager is more than just a beer,” says Chris Medcalf, Operations Manager at Aqua Analytics. “It is a toast to our achievements, but also a challenge to ourselves and the industry to push even further and ensure a sustainable water future for all.”
Aqua Analytics’ mission to reduce water network leakage across Australia and New Zealand goes beyond Leak Lager.
The company utilises best-in-class methodologies and expertise to help water utilities pinpoint and fix leaks, saving millions of litres of water each year. This not only benefits the environment but also reduces utilities’ costs and assists in the drive towards net zero carbon emissions.
The NSW Government’s $4.4 million Active Leak Detection Project is marching into 15 more councils for the next stage of work over the summer months to deliver water savings in regional communities using state-of-the-art technology.
With many parts of the state already experiencing drought conditions, reducing water loss is critical. $1 million has been injected into the project that has already surveyed more than 12,300kms of mains. This has saved 5.3 billion litres of water or the equivalent of 2,120 Olympic-sized swimming pools so far across 54 local government areas.
Specialist teams use cutting-edge equipment, including leak noise loggers, electronic listening sticks, ground microphones, and leak noise correlators to detect and pinpoint leaks before reporting them to the local council for repair. This ensures a more robust and efficient water network.
Eurobodalla Shire, Wingecarribee Shire, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Walgett Shire, Narrabri Shire, Berwarrina Shire, Warren Shire, Muswellbrook Shire, Tweed Shire, Cowra Shire, MidCoast, Ballina Shire, Central Darling Shire, Murray River and Armidale Regional Councils are having their pipes and valves inspected between now and March 2024.
The additional funding is part of the NSW Government’s $12.5 million Regional Leakage Reduction Program, which last year provided $1.3 million worth of grants to 13 local water utilities to assist them with staff training, pressure management, leakage control, and metering.
Quotes attributed to Acting Minister for Water, Steve Whan:
“The Minns Labor government has located more than 2500 water leaks in network infrastructure across the state, and 700 leaks in the supply for individual customers’ properties which is a strong reminder that there is no room for complacency when it comes to looking after our more precious natural resource.
“With another drought on the horizon, we can’t be a one trick pony for water management and our innovative program is designed to take a holistic approach to boosting water efficiency across our regions.
“Our expert leak detection teams play a key role in ensuring we’re counting every drop and making sure our communities are ready for when the next dry spell occurs.”
For more information, visit: Regional Leakage Reduction Program
Aqua Analytics is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Medcalf as Operations Manager.
Chris brings an extensive background in operations and leakage management in the water sector. For the past seven years, he has been the Operations Director at Water Intelligence Australia, where he was instrumental in overseeing significant leakage reduction projects with Hunter Water, Sydney Water, and other government organisations. Before his tenure in Australia, Chris was based in the UK as the Operations Director of Hydrosave. He also served as Leakage Manager North London for Thames Water and Head of Network Operations at MWH (UK).
Hugh Chapman, Managing Director of Aqua Analytics, commented:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Chris to the Aqua Analytics team. Our growth over the last couple of years has necessitated the establishment of a skilled leadership team to guide us through our next phase. Chris’s vast experience and proven track record make him an invaluable addition.”
Chris Medcalf shared his thoughts on his appointment:
“Joining Aqua Analytics was an easy decision. I’ve been impressed by their commitment to process improvement and approach to partnering with clients to address water network and leakage challenges in the short time they’ve been operating. I look forward to contributing my expertise and being part of the team that takes Aqua Analytics to greater heights.”
With demand for water ever-increasing and supplies quickly diminishing, losses in water distribution networks are becoming more significant for the environment, the economy, and human health. Even in countries like Australia where we have well-developed infrastructure, water network losses from the pipe network are common and routinely factored into operational costs.
Aqua Analytics has pioneered smart water solutions for over 20 years across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Water loss management, active leak detection, and pipeline condition assessment are our primary service offerings. Keep reading to learn more about water loss distribution in networks, and how water loss prevention measures that could change the way we tackle water management in the future.
Water network losses refer to any water lost via leakage from mains, service pipes, and reservoirs in a water distribution system. All distribution systems experience water loss; the difference is, only the volume of the loss that varies from country to country or even region to region. Losses from leakages typically occur at joints and fittings in pipes, from leaking reservoir walls and reservoir overflows. There are also often issues surrounding unauthorised consumption, metering inaccuracies and inadequate distribution policies in water networks across developing and developed countries. The volume of water lost from any given distribution system will depend on a number of factors including:
Water distribution losses are important for three main reasons:
Diagnosing issues and implementing practical solutions is the most effective strategy that can be applied to any water company, in any country across the globe. Nothing can be done about water network losses if the issues leading to the leakages are not clearly identified first. Some useful diagnostic questions include:
To answer the diagnostic questions, you’ll need some diagnostic tools to take accurate readings. The accuracy of the information you base your strategy on is key to its success.
At Aqua Analytics, that’s exactly what we do. We diagnose issues in water distribution systems and create solutions to minimise those issues. We’re passionate about implementing the very latest digital technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce leakages, and replace assets across water networks, when needed.
Our intelligent, technology-driven water network monitoring system will provide you with improved asset management. Some of the ways that we do this, include:
Skilled water network technicians utilise leak noses correlators to pinpoint leaks with confidence. Leak noise correlators get deployed by leakage technicians when they are unsure of the exact leakage location, for instance, when a similar noise on two appurtenances 150 meters apart.
Precise condition assessment for all assets in a water distribution system is vital to avoid unnecessary replacements and repairs while also making sure piping that is sub-standard is replaced immediately before it can cause further losses. We conduct meticulous inspections to help our customers make the right decision when it comes to the repair, replacement, and remediation of pipeline assets. Comprehensive analysis helps to determine the integrity of the system and pinpoint areas needing specific attention.
Our Internet-of-Things (IoT) network devices provide real-time feedback on water quality, water pressure variations, leakage detection and burst mains. Accurate monitoring allows for more effective management of daily operations and emergency events. Real-time feedback also reduces unexpected disruptions in the system and allows for efficient monitoring over time.
Often, water leakages will occur at joints and fittings, so accurately assessing the condition of all valves is highly advantageous. A valve is any device that regulates, directs, or controls the flow of water by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various pipelines. Therefore, evaluation of the mechanical condition and operational reliability of critical water network valves throughout a water supply system is essential for both everyday operation and in the case of an emergency when the water supply must be halted immediately. Using best-in-class valve condition assessment, Aqua Analytics can provide comprehensive reports detailing the function of the critical valve assets, the flow and pressure in the pipes, and the estimated remaining lifespan of all physical assets.
It is clear that minimising water distribution network losses is key to moving forward into a cleaner and more equitable society. The quality of the water we drink the financial impacts of water leakages and the restricted access to this life-giving resource that many suffer is enough to make water loss prevention a high priority for both developed and developing regions of the globe.
Across Australia and New Zealand, Aqua Analytics eagerly pursues water loss management projects. Our leading technicians pride themselves on completing work that is results-driven, making use of cutting-edge technology to provide exceptional services to water networks and utilities.
Aqua Analytics continue to be the go-to team for water utility providers – our technicians are here to answer any questions you have about losses in water distribution networks. Get in contact via phone or via our contact page to discuss your smart water network, water loss management or pipeline condition assessment project
Originally published on 29 October 2021
Several months ago, Yarra Valley Water, one of the largest water corporations in Australia, appointed Aqua Analytics as its consultant to deliver active leak detection services for the corporation’s water distribution area. Both organisations entered a three-year contract with an option to extend for a further two years subject to satisfactory performance and results.
Yarra Valley Water has long focused on proactively, efficiently and effectively identifying and rectifying leaks in its network as soon as possible to minimise water loss. This project will see Aqua Analytics continue to identify leaks throughout the Yarra Valley Water distribution areas that cover 4,000 square kilometres and assets that consist of over 10,000 kilometres of water mains. If any asset defects are identified, Aqua Analytics will report these via a customised field asset management system that integrates with Yarra Valley Water’s ERP solution, enabling prompt repair and reducing leak run-times.
The scope consists of both planned and reactive works based on real-time network intelligence such as minimum night flow indicators. Aqua Analytics’ team will use a range of acoustic leak detection equipment and sensors to achieve the project objectives and offer a range of innovative solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of field activities.
Commenting on the new project, Hugh Chapman, Managing Director of Aqua Analytics says, “We are excited to partner with Yarra Valley Water over the coming years to help them further reduce their non-revenue water. Yarra Valley Water is deeply committed to creating a sustainable future for its customers and our team shares this vision.”
Every day, more than 2 million people – around 30% of Victoria’s population and 58,000 businesses rely on Yarra Valley Water for their water and sanitation services.
The project award coincides with Aqua Analytics opening a new office in Melbourne, its third opening in the last 12 months and now having a direct local presence in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria to better serve its customers’ water network management needs. For office locations please visit our contact page.
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