New Zealand Archives - Aqua Analytics

Challenge

The council knew roughly how much water its network was losing. It did not know where.

The existing performance picture came from a top-down annual water balance: an Infrastructure Leakage Index of 2.93, placing the network in Band B of the IWA and Water New Zealand matrix — a well-managed system — against annual real losses of around 714,000 m³ and non-revenue water just under 20%. On those numbers, the network looked like a reasonable candidate for incremental improvement rather than urgent intervention.

But a top-down balance is built on assumptions. It divides a system-wide input volume against estimated consumption, and in this network the estimation problem was acute: there are no customer water meters. Billed consumption was derived entirely from flat-rate rating assumptions. A single conservative default — a 2% meter under-registration allowance applied to volumes that were never metered in the first place — was on its own misallocating roughly 66,000 m³ a year out of physical leakage and into apparent losses.

There was also no zone-level visibility. The network had zones on paper, but their hydraulic boundaries had never been proven. Some mapped boundary valves turned out to be in the wrong place, on the wrong pipe, or not closed at all. Without proven watertight zones, minimum night flow measurement is meaningless — unmetered flow crossing an unproven boundary makes a leaking zone look healthy.

The council needed the losses attributed to specific zones, measured rather than modelled, so that leak detection crews could be sent where the water was actually going.

Solution

Aqua Analytics was engaged by a South Island district council to deliver a full DMA validation across eight district metered areas — a network of approximately 200 km of reticulation mains serving around 8,000 connections. Field measurement found network real losses of 38.5 L/s, about 1.18 million m³ a year, and an Infrastructure Leakage Index of 6.2; more than double the desktop estimate the council had been planning against.

The project was delivered in three phases, with a formal hold point between desktop and field phases so that no field costs were committed before the overall delivery programme was agreed. Field delivery ran across an eleven-day window, with valve operations carried out by the network operator’s field crews under the direction of the Aqua Analytics field team.

Phase 1 — desktop review and boundary design: We rebuilt and audited the top-down water balance, reviewed GIS, hydraulic model outputs, pressure zones, reservoir levels and historical night-flow records, and redesigned the zone configuration from the nine assumed at tender to eight. Three candidate sub-zones had too few connections for statistically meaningful night-flow analysis and were consolidated; one oversized zone was split at a hydraulic break identified in a 1999 pressure-zone study, which also relieved a long-standing summer peak pressure complaint at the top of the hill. Every proposed boundary was cross-checked against known hydraulic breaks rather than drawn on convenience.
Boundary integrity proven before anything was measured: Each zone was isolated and tested by Partial Pressure Testing — valves closed to isolate the zone, with pressure at a nominated critical point allowed to decay to a controlled minimum of roughly 10 m rather than to zero. PPT gives the same boundary proof as full zero-pressure testing while keeping a residual head in the mains, which protects supply to vulnerable customers and reduces water-quality and air-ingress risk. Stable reduced pressure with no recovery proves isolation. Pressure recovery proves a breach.
Sectorisation to find every breach: Where pressure recovered, the zone was progressively subdivided and additional valves operated until the leaking boundary was located. This is the slow, unglamorous part of the work and it is where the value is: each breach found is a boundary error corrected permanently in the client's asset records.
Live pressure monitoring at every boundary: Loggers were installed in hydrants on both sides of each boundary valve and at each critical point, transmitting live so the field team could read the pressure response in real time and make isolation decisions on the spot rather than the following day.
Minimum night flow in proven zone: Once boundaries were confirmed, zone flow was measured over the 02:00–04:00 window when legitimate demand is lowest. A metering function set was defined for each zone — the exact combination of meters added and subtracted to give net flow in — and its completeness formally recorded. Where a permanent meter had failed, a reservoir level-derived flow was substituted and the workaround documented rather than quietly relied upon. Temporary insertion flowmeters closed the remaining measurement gaps.
Leakage split to New Zealand guidelines: Measured night flow was separated into legitimate customer night use, customer private supply-pipe leakage, and exceptional night use, per the New Zealand Water Loss Guidelines minimum night flow method. The residual is network real losses, converted to a daily and annual volume, normalised per connection and per kilometre of main, and benchmarked as an Infrastructure Leakage Index for each zone.
Handed over as a working system, not a report: Two standard operating procedures were issued — one for ongoing MNF monitoring with exception thresholds and an escalation path, one for boundary and valve management so that the isolation the programme established is not undone by the next emergency repair — along with a corrected GIS layer and a ranked capital list for the permanent metering needed to keep the zones measurable.

Results

Losses attributed zone by zone. Measured night flow across the monitored zones totalled 51.6 L/s, of which 38.5 L/s was network real losses after deducting customer components. Zone performance ranged from an ILI of 1.2 to 13.7. The single worst zone alone accounted for roughly a third of all measured network losses, at 1,049 L/connection/day.
Seven of eight zones proven watertight. Six passed PPT directly. The seventh required three attempts. The eighth, the largest and most hydraulically central, feeding most of the rest of the network, could not be isolated for a standalone test without taking the main reservoir offline and cutting supply to a large share of the town. It was instead proven discrete by elimination: every adjacent zone was independently isolated and confirmed, establishing that no unmeasured flow crosses its boundary during the night-flow window.
Prior leak detection measurably paid off. Two of the eight zones had received an acoustic leak detection inspection and repairs three months earlier, under a separate engagement with Aqua Analytics. They returned the two best results in the network, ILI 1.2 and 3.3. Zones with no recent active leakage control returned 5.4 to 13.7. The same measurement programme that quantified the problem also independently verified that active leak detection had worked.
Asset records corrected on the ground. The programme found and resolved a series of defects no desk review would have caught:
- A mapped boundary valve that did not isolate the zone. Its recorded diameter was a third of the main it supposedly sat on — it was on an unmapped branch line. An adjacent valve provided true isolation and the asset record was corrected.
- The smallest zone resisted isolation across two full test attempts despite the pump station being taken offline and every known isolation point closed. Systematic sequential testing traced the cause to an undocumented sluice valve, originating from a water source that differed from the client’s own schematic.
- Valving around a disused booster station was configured differently from the record, requiring additional closures to separate two adjacent zones.
- A passing valve located by sectorisation and referred for maintenance.
- A reservoir outlet meter was found non-functioning, and a second zone’s meter set was producing a physically impossible negative net flow — both were flagged with the reasons documented rather than absorbed into the result.

Project Benefits and Conclusion

The council came away with a ranked leakage-control programme ordered by measured loss, with a survey method set for each zone — and the first zone on that list holds roughly a third of the network’s losses, which is the difference between a targeted campaign and a district-wide active leak detection sweep. Every zone now carries a measured Net Leakage Rate and ILI, so future improvement is provable rather than asserted, and the permanent metering recommendations are tiered by priority against the specific measurement gaps the field programme exposed. Two standard operating procedures leave the council’s own team running the weekly monitoring and protecting the zone boundaries, so the programme doesn’t decay the moment we demobilise.

A top-down water balance tells a utility roughly how much water it is losing. It cannot tell them where, and when the underlying consumption data is thin, it can be wrong by a factor of two. This programme replaced assumption with measurement: eight zones with proven boundaries, minimum night flow measured inside them, and losses attributed zone by zone — turning a district-wide estimate into a ranked, costed work programme. It also independently confirmed that the zones which had received active leak detection were the zones performing best.

Aqua Analytics offers Non-Revenue Water Consulting to help with design, validation, and baselining district-metered areas (DMAs) across Australia and New Zealand, and builds bottom-up water balances that make leakage reduction measurable.

If your zones exist on paper but have never been hydraulically proven, talk to our team.

Challenge

A metropolitan council in New Zealand had identified two water loss zones within its distribution network as having persistently high Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) values — a key international benchmark used to assess the physical condition of pipe networks and prioritise capital investment.

One zone served a dense urban commercial core anchored by a major hospital, civic recreation facilities, and an active hospitality sector. The other was a heavily industrialised logistics and manufacturing hub where many facilities operated around the clock.

Despite their high ILI scores suggesting significant physical water loss, the council had not been able to reconcile these figures with observable network conditions. The concern was that inflated ILI values could be misdirecting millions of dollars in planned infrastructure renewal towards zones where the pipes were actually in better condition than the data suggested.

Aqua Analytics was engaged to conduct a targeted diagnostic water loss investigation to determine whether these zones were genuinely losing large volumes of water through pipe deterioration, or whether the reported leakage was a mathematical artefact of flawed assumptions in the underlying Minimum Night Flow (MNF) methodology.

The Diagnostic Approach to Water Loss

The project was structured across three phases, each building on the findings of the last

Phase 1 — Diagnostic Review:

The initial review examined the data inputs and assumptions underpinning the existing MNF calculations. Three critical deficiencies were identified. First, historical assessments had applied a generic residential nighttime usage allowance — typically 2 litres per property per hour — uniformly across all properties, including heavy manufacturing plants and 24/7 medical facilities. This drastically understated how much water was being legitimately consumed at night, causing the remainder to be incorrectly classified as leakage. Second, the zone inlet flow data and customer meter readings used in the calculations had been captured at different times — in some cases months apart — creating a fundamental temporal mismatch that invalidated the water balance equation. Third, pressure-leakage adjustments had relied on inlet pressure readings alone, without accounting for the actual hydraulic conditions across each zone's distribution network.
Phase 2 — Field Data Acquisition:

With the diagnostic gaps mapped, a field team was deployed to collect the empirical data needed to replace assumptions with measurements. This involved two parallel workstreams. An active leak detection survey was completed across both zones, identifying 28 physical leaks — 24 in the urban zone and 4 in the industrial zone — with a combined estimated flow of approximately 185 litres per minute. Notable findings included a customer-side leak masked by a seized meter mechanism, a major main leak, and a significant valve leak at a key intersection. A "straight-pipe" connection was also discovered where a meter was missing entirely, meaning consumption at that property was completely unrecorded. Simultaneously, a team manually logged 24-hour consumption profiles for high-volume commercial customers. Any meter with average daily consumption exceeding 5 kilolitres was targeted. Across both zones, over 50 commercial meters were read at four precise intervals over a 24-hour cycle: early morning on Day 1 to establish a baseline, then at approximately 1:30 AM and 3:00 AM on Day 2 to capture the MNF window, and again early morning on Day 2 to close the volume balance. This approach generated interval-specific hourly consumption rates rather than relying on broad daily averages.
Phase 3 — Analysis, Framework Development, and Reporting:

The field data revealed the true scale of legitimate commercial night consumption and its impact on the leakage calculations.

Deriving Empirical Night-Use Factors
By comparing MNF-window consumption against 24-hour averages, the analysis established verified Night-Use Factors for each zone. In the urban zone, the gross night-use ratio across all read meters was initially 83.7%, but this was heavily skewed by a single exceptional outlier — the major hospital, whose meters alone accounted for over 30 kL/hr of night consumption. Once the hospital was mathematically isolated and treated as a discrete deduction (as its 24/7 operational profile would grossly overestimate consumption if applied to standard commercial premises), the normalised Night-Use Factor for the zone's general commercial sector was calculated at 67.6%. The industrial zone returned a factor of 63.8%, with high-volume accounts at logistics and food processing facilities maintaining continuous water draws throughout the night window.

These figures were dramatically higher than the generic residential allowances previously applied, confirming that vast quantities of legitimate customer consumption had been misclassified as network leakage.

The "Negative Leakage" Anomaly
When the newly verified commercial night consumption rate from the urban zone was subtracted from the last available historical MNF inlet snapshot (captured approximately nine months earlier), the result was a mathematically impossible negative value — implying the network was somehow generating water. This "negative leakage" result proved conclusively that historical inlet data could not be retroactively corrected with consumption data from a different time period. Commercial and industrial demand fluctuates dynamically with production schedules and seasonal requirements, meaning a valid water balance can only be achieved when inlet logging and customer consumption logging occur simultaneously.

Pressure Corrections
A desktop GIS review identified that both zones sit on exceptionally flat terrain, allowing a single mid-point node in each zone to serve as a representative Average Zone Pressure (AZP) location. Specific intersection areas were identified for permanent or temporary logger deployment in future tests. Theoretical Leakage Exponents (N1) were assigned based on pipe material composition — 1.0 for the urban zone's mixed metallic/plastic network, and 1.2 for the industrial zone's predominantly plastic pipework — enabling the calculation of a Night-to-Day Factor to convert 2-hour night leakage rates into 24-hour volumes.

Metering Anomalies
The intensive field sweep uncovered several operational issues that would compromise future data capture if left unaddressed: a critical hospital meter that could not be physically located and was absent from GIS records; a meter fitted with a pulse reader that prevented manual reading; a meter that had been replaced and relocated under a new serial number without the asset database being updated; a new smart meter installation at a major recreation centre that did not match existing records; and a meter lacking any physical serial number, creating identification risks for field crews.

Investigation Outcome

Because the historical data lacked synchronised consumption logging, valid average zone pressure measurements, and proven hydraulic isolation, Aqua Analytics concluded that a reliable historical ILI value could not be calculated for either zone.

The existing ILI figures were confirmed to be overinflated, primarily due to systematic underestimation of legitimate commercial night-time consumption, compounded by temporal mismatches and the absence of pressure corrections.

Rather than attempting to retrofit unreliable historical data, the project delivered a refined MNF Calculation Framework, a step-by-step Standard Operating Procedure designed to govern all future testing in these zones and applicable to similar zones across the wider network.

The framework requires synchronised data capture (inlet logging and customer meter reading on the same night), verified hydraulic isolation through zero-pressure testing, empirically derived commercial Night-Use Factors applied to unread accounts, topographically corrected average zone pressures, and ideally, site-specific leakage exponents validated through physical pressure step-tests.

Key Outcomes at a Glance

Metric	Detail
Verified commercial Night-Use Factor (Urban Zone)	67.6% (normalised, excluding hospital outlier)
Verified commercial Night-Use Factor (Industrial Zone)	63.8%
Physical leaks identified	28 across both zones (~185 L/min total)
Metering anomalies flagged for remediation	6 priority assets
Asset defects discovered	1 unmetered “straight-pipe” connection
Historical ILI reliability	Confirmed invalid — new baseline test required

Strategic Value for Water Loss

This project demonstrated that what appeared to be a significant infrastructure problem was, in fact, a data and methodology problem.

By replacing generic assumptions with empirical field measurements, the council gained a clear understanding of where mathematical reporting errors end and genuine physical water loss begins.

The refined framework positions the council to produce high-confidence ILI values that can reliably inform network investment decisions — ensuring capital is directed toward zones with genuine infrastructure need rather than zones with overstated leakage metrics.

Aqua Analytics delivered this project through our New Zealand team, which specialises in water loss diagnostics, minimum night flow analysis, and network performance improvement for councils and water utilities. Contact us here.

Challenge

Local councils in New Zealand, facing national pressure to reduce water loss (or non-revenue water) significantly, required a sustained, expert-led program to drive down leakage levels across their combined networks continuously.

The challenge was maintaining operational focus while delivering high-volume, cost-effective active leakage control in dynamic urban and suburban environments.

Solution: New Zealand Water Loss Experts

Aqua Analytics implemented an ongoing, collaborative leak detection program for two mid-sized New Zealand councils. This solution provided specialised expertise, advanced acoustic equipment, and a proven methodology for consistent water loss reduction, acting as a crucial element in the councils’ long-term water conservation strategy.

DMA Prioritisation: Utilising the councils' DMA data and minimum night flow (MNF) analysis, Aqua Analytics prioritised zones showing the highest rates of apparent and real losses.
Advanced Acoustic Survey: Expert teams systematically surveyed the prioritised network areas using listening sticks, correlators and ground microphones, ensuring full coverage, including challenging non-metallic pipes prevalent in the region.
Integrated Spatial Reporting: Leaks were reported using GIS-centric tools, providing the precise location, estimated size, and immediate digital notification to the councils' repair teams, significantly reducing leak run-times.
Continuous Improvement: The program included regular performance reviews and data handovers, ensuring the councils' internal teams gained valuable asset intelligence and mentorship from Aqua Analytics' field experts.

Measurable Outcomes

Sustained Leakage Reduction: The continuous effort ensured that leakage levels were not only brought down but kept down over multiple investigation cycles.
Water Conservation: Significant volumes of water were saved annually, directly supporting the councils’ water conservation goals and enhancing supply security.
Reduced Operational Costs: Lower leakage translated directly to reduced costs associated with pumping, treatment, and emergency repairs.
Enhanced Asset Intelligence: The councils received detailed leak maps and data, improving their understanding of network weak points for future renewal planning.

Conclusion

The sustained Leakage Reduction program successfully addressed the chronic Non-Revenue Water (NRW) challenges faced by these two Councils.

By implementing rigorous Active Leakage Control (ALC) using integrated spatial reporting and expert acoustic surveys, leakage levels were lowered and maintained over multiple cycles. This continuous approach to water loss in New Zealand ensures significant annual water conservation, translating directly into reduced operational costs and enhanced supply security. Aqua Analytics provides the proven methodology and advanced asset intelligence required to move your council from reactive repairs to proactive, sustainable leakage management.

Are you looking at ways to reduce your water loss in your New Zealand Council? Contact our experts today to discuss your network’s unique challenges.

Challenge

A district council in the South Island of New Zealand recognised the urgency of addressing water loss within their network, particularly as the summer months approached.

They engaged Aqua Analytics to undertake an intensive active leakage control investigation to ensure a resilient water supply for their community. Our team mobilised within weeks of award and completed the work within a few days.

The project focused on two of the council’s water systems, covering 51 kilometres of water mains. The network presented unique challenges due to a high proportion of non-metallic pipes (uPVC and PE), making leak detection more complex and requiring a skilled team to investigate.

Solution

Aqua Analytics deployed a skilled two-person team equipped with sensitive acoustic equipment to conduct a thorough survey, accessing all available appurtenances and water meters.

Using a GIS-centric approach, Aqua Analytics meticulously mapped and recorded each leak’s location. This spatial data was integrated into the council’s GIS system, enabling swift visualisation and prioritisation of repair works. By accurately pinpointing leak locations, the council could dispatch repair crews efficiently, reducing response times and minimising water wastage.

Measureable Outcomes

The intensive investigation yielded significant results, uncovering a total of 34 leaks, including 30 network leaks and 4 customer-side leaks.

The combined leakage amounted to a substantial 234 liters per minute, translating to a staggering 123 megaliters of annual water loss. Notably, some leaks on mains and ferrules exceeded 20 liters per minute, highlighting the potential for significant wastage over time.

Over 85% of the detected leaks were not visible above ground, underscoring the importance of proactive leak detection in identifying hidden water loss. As the summer months approached, this intervention was crucial in ensuring the community’s water supply remained resilient during periods of peak demand.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ expertise in leak detection and GIS-centric reporting enabled the district council to proactively address non-revenue water challenges in the South Island of New Zealand.

By implementing a targeted and efficient investigation, we identified and quantified significant water loss, empowering the council to take swift corrective action and ensure a more sustainable and resilient water supply for their community.

New Zealand councils are now better equipped to address water loss challenges with the shift to a new funding model under the “Local Water Done Well” initiative. This positive development, coupled with the proactive leak detection services provided by Aqua Analytics, paves the way for improved water network efficiency and sustainability across the nation.

Challenge

The client recognised the need for proactive leak detection within their water distribution network but faced budgetary constraints that hindered the purchase of the most advanced acoustic logging equipment. Having tried several brands, they approached Aqua Analytics for brand-independent advice about equipment performance.

They required a cost-effective solution that would allow them to leverage the latest technology without significant capital expenditure.

Solution

Aqua Analytics offered a fully managed acoustic logger deployment service, providing the client access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise without any upfront capital outlay. All IoT devices were owned by Aqua Analytics and provided under long-term rental arrangements. This turnkey solution included:

Provision of Aqua-Owned Assets: We supplied the client with high-quality NB-IoT acoustic loggers from our own fleet, eliminating the need for the client to purchase expensive equipment. These loggers utilise the Spark NZ Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network for reliable and efficient data transmission.
Remote Setup and Support: Our team of experts remotely configure and set up the loggers in the cloud environment, ensuring seamless integration with the client's existing systems via REST APIs. Cellular costs associated with data transmission are covered by Aqua Analytics, simplifying procurement and management for the client. Ongoing technical support is provided throughout the project.
Daily Data Review and Analysis: Our dedicated team monitors the loggers data daily, analysing acoustic signals for signs of leaks and reviewing Artificial Intelligence (AI) predictions. This proactive approach enables reduced leak run times and swift response.
Detailed Reporting and Recommendations: The client receives daily reports detailing leak locations, estimated water loss, and recommended actions. These insights empower the client to prioritise repairs and optimise their maintenance strategies.
Flexible Deployments: The loggers can be easily relocated within the network to target specific problems areas or investigate DMAs with high minimum night flows (MNFs).

Results

Zero Capital Expenditure: The service delivery model eliminates the need for upfront investment in advanced hardware, making it a cost-effective solution for the client.
Significant Reduction in Water Loss: The early detection and repair of leaks, which was supported by Aqua Analytics' fully-managed service, has resulted in substantial water savings for the client.
Access to Expertise: The client benefited from Aqua Analytics' extensive knowledge and experience in leak detection and water network management, and our daily use with a large range of acoustic logger equipment.

Client Benefits

Cost-Effective Leak Detection: The zero-capex model provided the client with access to cutting-edge technology without the burden of upfront costs or complex procurement processes.
Proactive Water Loss Management: The daily monitoring and alerts enabled the client to address leaks promptly, minimising water leakage and potential damage.
Flexibility and Efficiency: The ability to relocate loggers within the network allows for targeted investigations and optimised resource allocation.
Expert Leak Detection Support: Aqua Analytics' dedicated team provided comprehensive support, from initial setup to ongoing monitoring and analysis, ensuring the client received maximum value from the service.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ fully-managed acoustic logger deployment service demonstrates how innovative solutions and a service-oriented approach can help revolutionise leak detection for water utilities.

By offering a zero-capex model with access to cutting-edge acoustic loggers and NB-IoT connectivity, we empower clients to proactively manage their water networks, significantly reduce water loss, and achieve greater operational efficiency.

Our dedicated team handles all deployment, monitoring, and analysis aspects, providing actionable insights and seamless integration with existing asset management systems.

This turnkey service minimises the financial burden and ensures clients receive the full benefits of advanced acoustic leak detection technology. As water utilities continue to seek cost-effective and efficient solutions to combat non-revenue water, Aqua Analytics’ fully-managed acoustic logger deployments represent a powerful tool in their arsenal, as this New Zealand client demonstrates.

Full references available.

Challenge

The water utility faced a critical need to mitigate the negative impacts of pressure transients within their extensive network. These sudden pressure surges were causing pipe bursts, leaks, and infrastructure damage, resulting in service disruptions, increased maintenance costs, and potential safety hazards. The utility sought a comprehensive solution that would monitor pressure transients and provide actionable insights to optimise network operations and improve resilience.

Solution

Aqua Analytics was engaged to provide a holistic pressure transient management solution, encompassing monitoring, analysis, and expert advisory services aimed at achieving a calm water network. The approach included:

Aqua Analytics deployed a network of high-resolution pressure sensors at key locations within the water network. These sensors continuously monitored pressure fluctuations, capturing detailed data on transient events at a resolution of 128 times per second.

The collected data was analysed using sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques to identify pressure transients’ patterns, trends, and root causes. This analysis went beyond simple event detection, uncovering underlying operational issues and potential areas for improvement.

Aqua Analytics’ team of experienced engineers and water network specialists provided the utility with actionable recommendations based on the data analysis. This included:

Operational Optimisation: Operational Optimisation involves identifying inefficient pump operations, recommending valve adjustments, and optimising system controls to minimise transient events.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Pinpointing areas where infrastructure upgrades, such as surge protection or variable speed drives (VSDs), could improve network resilience.
Customer Engagement: Identify consumers whose water usage patterns contributed to pressure transients and work with them to implement solutions.

Results

Reduced Pressure Transients: The proactive monitoring and mitigation strategies significantly reduced the frequency and severity of pressure transients across the network.
Minimised Pipe Bursts and Leaks: By addressing the root causes of transients, the utility experienced a notable decrease in pipe failures, leaks, and associated repair costs.
Improved Operational Efficiency: Optimised pump operations and system controls resulted in energy savings and increased operational efficiency.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Reduced service disruptions and improved water quality contributed to higher customer satisfaction levels.
Data-Driven Decision Making: The comprehensive data analysis and expert advisory services empowered the utility to make informed decisions regarding asset management, infrastructure upgrades, and operational practices.
Lower Level of Water Loss: Reducing transients positively impacted areas with high levels of water loss. Small leaks did not become larger, and the weak regions of the water supply system did not come under regular stress, leading to lower water loss.

Client Benefits

Increased Network Resilience: The project significantly improved the water network's resilience to pressure transients, minimising the risk of damage and service disruptions.
Cost Savings: Reduced repair costs, optimised energy consumption, and proactive maintenance contributed to substantial cost savings for the utility. Fewer main breaks meant fewer assets ended on replacement lists due to the client's failure criteria.
Environmental Benefits: By reducing water loss through leaks and bursts, the project promoted sustainable water management practices and demonstrated the strong link between pressure transients and water loss.
Proactive Asset Management: The project's data-driven insights enabled the utility to implement a proactive asset management approach, ensuring its water infrastructure's long-term health and performance.

Conclusion

This consulting-led project by Aqua Analytics provided a holistic approach to pressure transient management, combining advanced monitoring technology, data analytics, and expert advisory services. The key outcome was to deliver actionable insights that could lead to a calmer water supply network. This case study highlights the value of a comprehensive solution beyond simply installing smart devices to capture data. Ultimately, providing actionable insights that can assist in optimising network operations, improving resilience, and achieving long-term water sustainability through a calm network is the main goal for network operators and asset managers.

Challenge

Despite previous efforts by its usual service providers, the council needed to grapple with persistently high leakage levels in two District Metering Areas (DMAs). Recognising the need for a fresh approach, the council sought a performance-based engagement with a provider who could deliver measurable results and lasting improvements to its water network.

Solution

With a proven track record in water network management and leak detection and the ability to take on performance-based engagements, Aqua Analytics was selected to address the council’s challenges. The project focused on:

Targeted Leak Detection: Leveraging their extensive experience and expertise in non-metallic pipe networks, Aqua Analytics deployed a skilled team of technicians with advanced acoustic technology. They meticulously surveyed both DMAs, identifying and pinpointing 32 leaks on the network and over 20 additional leaks on private customer properties.
Data-Driven Approach: Aqua Analytics utilised a GIS-centric approach to data management, ensuring seamless integration with the council's asset management system. This allowed for efficient reporting, real-time alerts, and comprehensive tracking of leak repairs, significantly reducing leak run times.

Results

Significant Reduction in Leakage: The project substantially decreased leakage within both DMAs, achieving the lowest levels recorded for these areas.
Identification of Buried Assets: Aqua Analytics' investigations revealed many buried assets that had yet to be recently assessed, uncovering potential sources of previously undetected leaks or evidence of insufficient prior investigation.
Improved Network Efficiency: Targeted leak repairs and the implementation of network calming recommendations improved the water network's overall efficiency and resilience.
Value for Money: The council received exceptional value from the performance-based engagement, achieving results that exceeded their expectations and previous efforts by other providers.

Client Quote: “The leakage levels in these two DMAs are now the lowest we have ever seen thanks to Aqua.”

Key Benefits

Expertise and Experience: Aqua Analytics' decades of experience in water network management and leak detection, along with their commitment to innovation and best practices, proved invaluable in addressing the council's complex challenges.
Performance-Based Approach: By focusing on measurable results and outcomes, Aqua Analytics ensured the highest value for the council's investment.
GIS-Centric Reporting: The client experienced enhanced reporting via Aqua Analytics' innovative AquaLeaks Portal.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ successful partnership with this New Zealand council demonstrates the power of a performance-based, data-driven approach to leak detection and water loss management. Aqua Analytics delivered exceptional results by combining technical expertise, innovative solutions, and a commitment to client satisfaction, ensuring a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable water network for the community. The ability to lower water loss in these DMAs demonstrated to the council that alternative approaches exist to help them achieve their goals.

Challenge

The operator faced a growing concern over water loss across their diverse portfolio of water schemes, ranging from 5 to 100 kilometres. These schemes, predominantly featuring non-metallic water mains, presented unique challenges for leak detection due to sound propagation limitations and complex configurations, including “rider” mains. Additionally, customer-side leaks posed a challenge as meters weren’t read, and consumption wasn’t billed volumetrically.

Solution

Recognising the need for specialised expertise, the operator engaged Aqua Analytics to conduct a thorough water loss investigation across their various schemes. Aqua Analytics’ personalised approach involved:

Aqua Analytics deployed a team of leak detection specialists who are experienced in working with non-metallic pipe networks. They utilised specialised acoustic equipment and techniques specifically designed to overcome the challenges of sound propagation in these materials.

The project encompassed a comprehensive investigation of each water scheme, including:

Boundary Valve Assessment: Thorough inspection and testing of boundary valves to identify leaks and ensure proper isolation capabilities.
Trunk Main Leak Detection: Systematic leak detection on trunk mains using advanced acoustic technologies.
Appurtenance Inspection: Examine all accessible appurtenances, such as hydrants and valves, to identify leaks or potential failure points.
Customer Side Leak Detection: Investigation of leaks on customer properties despite the absence of volumetric billing.
Data-Driven Reporting and Recommendations: Aqua Analytics compiled detailed reports for each scheme, highlighting leak locations, estimated water loss, and recommendations for repairs or replacements. This information enabled the operator to prioritise maintenance activities and implement effective water loss reduction strategies.

Results

Over 75 Leaks Identified: Aqua Analytics successfully located and identified over 75 leaks, including major and minor ones, across the various water schemes.
Thousands of Liters Saved Daily: Repairing these leaks resulted in substantial water savings, amounting to thousands of litres per day across the network.
Reduced Operational Costs: The reduction in water loss translated into significant cost savings for the operator, primarily through lower treatment and pumping expenses.
Improved Asset Management: The detailed leak data and recommendations gave the operator valuable insights for proactive asset management and maintenance planning.

Client Benefits

Water Conservation: The project significantly reduced water loss, contributing to the operator's sustainability goals and responsible resource management. Reducing and managing water loss is a key contract requirement for this private operator, and their partnership with Aqua Analytics enables them to fulfil this obligation and exceed requirements.
Cost Efficiency: Identifying and repairing leaks resulted in substantial cost savings, enhancing the water schemes' overall financial performance.
Enhanced Network Reliability: By addressing leaks and improving asset management, the operator ensured their customers a more reliable and resilient water supply.
Expertise and Innovation: Aqua Analytics' specialised knowledge of non-metallic pipe networks and innovative leak detection techniques proved invaluable in tackling the project's unique challenges.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ comprehensive approach to water loss investigation delivered exceptional results for the private water network operator in New Zealand. By tailoring their methodology to the specific challenges of non-metallic pipes and providing a full-scale network assessment, Aqua Analytics successfully identified and addressed many leaks, resulting in substantial water savings and improved operational efficiency for the client.

The Challenge

The water utility faced the ongoing challenge of managing pressure transients within its vast water distribution network. These transient events can lead to pipe bursts, leaks, and infrastructure damage, impacting service reliability and operational costs. To proactively address this issue, the utility sought a comprehensive solution providing real-time insights and actionable data.

The Solution

Aqua Analytics was engaged to design, implement, and manage a pressure transient monitoring project leveraging the Syrinix PIPEMINDER-ONE technology and the RADAR cloud-based data analysis platform. Aqua Analytics’ turnkey approach included:

Strategic Deployment: Aqua Analytics utilised a proprietary deployment simulation tool, incorporating the utility's GIS data, to identify optimal installation locations for maximum coverage and impact. This strategic approach prioritised areas with larger diameter assets, facilities, and historically problematic zones.
Advanced Monitoring Technology: Aqua Analytics deployed Syrinix PIPEMINDER-ONE sensors, capable of capturing high-resolution pressure data and precisely detecting transient events.
Real-Time Data Analysis: The RADAR platform provided real-time access to data, enabling rapid identification, classification, and source location of pressure transients. Machine learning algorithms automatically categorised events like sharp pressure drops, potential pump stops, and negative pressures.
Actionable Insights: Aqua Analytics went beyond raw data analysis, providing the utility with clear, actionable insights to address the root causes of transient events and implement mitigation strategies. This included identifying operational issues, optimising pump schedules, and prioritising maintenance activities.
Continuous Monitoring and Maintenance: Aqua Analytics managed all aspects of the project, including equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and reporting, ensuring continuous data reliability and system performance.

Results

Enhanced Understanding of Network Dynamics: The utility gained a deeper understanding of pressure transients within their network, identifying patterns, trends, and high-risk areas.
Proactive Issue Resolution: Real-time alerts and actionable insights enabled the utility to respond quickly to transient events, preventing potential damage and minimising service disruptions.
Improved Operational Efficiency: By addressing the root causes of transient events, the utility optimised pump operations, reduced energy consumption, and improved overall network efficiency.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Aqua Analytics' comprehensive data collection and analysis informed long-term asset management strategies, ensuring optimal resource allocation and risk mitigation.

Client Benefits

Reduced Risk of Pipe Bursts and Leaks: Proactive monitoring and mitigation strategies significantly reduced the likelihood of infrastructure damage caused by pressure transients.
Improved Service Reliability: By addressing operational issues and promptly responding to transient events, the utility enhanced the reliability and consistency of water service for their customers.
Cost Savings: Reduced water loss, optimised pump operations, and proactive maintenance contributed to significant cost savings for the utility.
Turnkey Solution: Aqua Analytics' comprehensive approach, from design and installation to data analysis and reporting, provided a seamless and efficient solution for the utility.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates the value of a holistic, data-driven approach to pressure transient management. By partnering with Aqua Analytics, the New Zealand water utility successfully implemented a proactive monitoring solution that identified and mitigated transient events and provided valuable insights to optimise their overall network operations.