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