Victoria Archives - Aqua Analytics

Challenge

The water utility faced persistent challenges with a problematic District Metered Area (DMA) characterised by high water demand, heavy traffic, and frequent leak occurrences. Traditional leak detection methods proved inefficient and costly due to the difficult environment and the need for repeated site visits to collect data. The utility sought a proactive, real-time solution to gain better control over water loss and improve operational efficiency.

Solution

Aqua Analytics devised a strategic approach to address the DMA’s challenges in collaboration with the water utility. This involved:

NB-IoT Acoustic Loggers: Aqua Analytics deployed 30 acoustic loggers strategically throughout the DMA at 200-300 meter spacings. These loggers transmit data daily using the Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) spectrum, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming manual data collection.
Optimised Leak Detection Window: The loggers were programmed to actively listen for leaks between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., with minimal water demand and reduced environmental noise, ensuring optimal leak detection sensitivity due to high network pressure.
Real-Time Data and Alerts: The loggers transmitted leak data daily at 5 am, giving the utility real-time insights into the DMA's performance. This enabled proactive leak identification and prioritisation of repairs.
Correlation and Pinpointing: The loggers' correlation capabilities allowed Aqua Analytics to pinpoint leak locations remotely with high accuracy, facilitating the direct dispatch of repair crews to diggable locations and minimising costs related to logger data collection or pinpointing activities.

Results

100% Data Reliability: The NB-IoT technology ensured consistent and reliable data transmission from all 30 loggers over 90 days.
Multiple Leaks Identified: The loggers detected a wide range of leaks, including a large burst service, several customer-side leaks, a burst main, and a small leak that gradually increased.
Enhanced Network Intelligence: The continuous monitoring provided by the loggers offered the utility an unprecedented level of insight into their network's performance, enabling proactive leak management and improved operational efficiency.
Detection Beyond DMA Boundaries: The loggers even detected a burst main just outside the DMA and a subsequent issue with a compromised boundary valve, highlighting the system's extended reach and effectiveness.

Client Benefits

Significant Water Loss Reduction: The prompt identification and repair of numerous leaks resulted in substantial water savings by reducing leak run times.
Improved Operational Efficiency: The real-time data and accurate leak pinpointing allowed for faster repairs and minimised disruption to the high-demand area.
Proactive Asset Management: The data collected from the loggers informed the utility's asset management strategies, enabling them to prioritise maintenance and upgrades for optimal network performance.
Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness: The utility's success in the initial project led to its expansion of the logger program, demonstrating the solution's scalability and cost-effectiveness.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ innovative use of NB-IoT acoustic loggers revolutionised leak detection for the water utility. The project significantly reduced water loss and improved network efficiency by providing real-time data, accurate leak pinpointing, and actionable insights. It empowered the utility with a proactive approach to asset management. The success of this project highlights the potential of advanced technologies to transform how water utilities monitor and manage their infrastructure, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable water supply for their communities.

Challenge

The water utility faced a persistent problem with a troublesome water main that suffered frequent failures. This main, constructed from a combination of Cast Iron Cement-Lined (CICL) and Ductile Iron Cement-Lined (DICL) pipes, some of which had installation dates back over 100 years, was prone to leaks and breaks, causing service disruptions, costly repairs, and potential safety hazards. Traditional inspection methods were disruptive and time-consuming, making it difficult to pinpoint the root causes of the failures.

Solution

The utility engaged Aqua Analytics to conduct a non-invasive pipeline condition assessment using KenWave Dynamic Response Imaging™ (DRI) technology. DRI is an innovative acoustic method that provides detailed insights into pipeline integrity without requiring excavation or disruption to service. Aqua Analytics’ comprehensive approach includes:

Site Visit and Inspection Plan: A thorough site visit assessed the pipeline's layout, accessibility, and specific challenges. This information was used to develop a customised inspection plan, ensuring efficient and accurate data collection.
Non-Invasive Data Collection: Aqua Analytics' technicians deployed portable DRI equipment, utilising acoustic signals to assess the pipeline's condition. This non-invasive method allowed for data collection without disrupting service or requiring excavation.
Data Analysis and Reporting: The collected data was analysed using KenWave's proprietary algorithms, providing a detailed assessment of the pipeline's structural integrity, including wall thickness, stiffness, and potential defects. Aqua Analytics then provided the utility with a comprehensive report with GIS files for easy integration into their existing systems.
Exhumation and Validation: To confirm the accuracy of the DRI assessment, the utility excavated a section of the pipeline for visual inspection and validation. The results strongly validated the DRI findings, confirming the presence of the identified defects and the need for proactive maintenance.

Results

Accurate Condition Assessment: DRI technology accurately identified the underlying causes of the pipeline's frequent failures, including areas of reduced wall thickness, corrosion, and structural weaknesses.
Targeted Repairs and Replacements: Based on the DRI data, the utility could prioritise repairs and replacements, first addressing the most critical issues and preventing future failures.
Improved Asset Management: The detailed pipeline condition assessment provided valuable insights for the utility's asset management program, enabling it to develop a proactive maintenance strategy for the long-term health of its infrastructure.
Reduced Service Disruptions: By addressing the root causes of the pipeline failures, the utility minimised service disruptions and ensured a more reliable water supply for its customers.

Client Benefits

Non-Invasive and Efficient: DRI technology provided a fast, non-invasive, and efficient way to assess the pipeline's condition without disrupting service or requiring costly excavations.
Accurate and Actionable Insights: The detailed DRI assessment enabled the utility to make informed decisions regarding repairs and replacements, prioritising the most critical areas.
Improved Asset Management: The data collected through DRI helped the utility develop a proactive maintenance strategy, extending the lifespan of its infrastructure and minimising future failures.
Cost Savings: By preventing future leaks and breaks, the project contributed significant cost savings regarding repairs, water loss, and operational disruptions.

Conclusion

Aqua Analytics’ successful implementation of KenWave DRI technology for this challenging pipeline assessment demonstrates the power of innovative solutions in addressing the complex issues of aging infrastructure. By providing accurate, actionable insights and a noninvasive approach, Aqua Analytics empowered the water utility to proactively manage its assets, reduce failures, and ensure a more reliable water supply.

The Challenge

Yarra Valley Water, responsible for providing water and sanitation services to over 2 million people, sought to enhance their proactive approach to leak detection and water loss reduction. Their extensive network, spanning 4,000 square kilometres and over 10,000 kilometres of water mains, required a comprehensive and efficient solution to effectively manage and mitigate water loss across such a vast area.

Our Solution

In 2021, Yarra Valley Water partnered with Aqua Analytics, a leading water network intelligence solutions provider, to tackle this challenge. The initial three-year contract focused on several key areas:

Proactive Leak Detection: Aqua Analytics utilised a range of acoustic leak detection equipment, sensors, and data analytics to identify leaks across the entire network efficiently.
Real-Time Network Monitoring: A real-time system was implemented to monitor the network, enabling rapid response to potential leaks and anomalies.
Integrated Reporting: A customised field asset management system was integrated with Yarra Valley Water's existing systems, streamlining the reporting and repair process. This integrated approach significantly assisted with the Active Leak Detection Repair Time Uplift Project.

The Results

Over the initial three-year period and the subsequent two-year extension, Aqua Analytics’ solution has delivered significant benefits to Yarra Valley Water:

Substantial Reduction in Non-Revenue Water: The partnership has considerably decreased water loss, contributing to resource conservation and cost savings.
Optimised Field Operations: Aqua Analytics' expertise and technology have enabled Yarra Valley Water to streamline leak detection and repair processes, maximising efficiency.
Improved Customer Satisfaction: By ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply, the partnership indirectly contributes to the satisfaction of Yarra Valley Water's customers.
Innovation for Reactive Works: Aqua Analytics designed a custom solution for Yarra Valley Water's internal leak detection teams, providing access to industry-leading technology with support from the Aqua Analytics team.

Partnership Extension

Based on the success of the initial collaboration, Yarra Valley Water extended the contract with Aqua Analytics for an additional two years through mid-2026. This extension is a testament to the value and effectiveness of Aqua Analytics’s services.

Conclusion

The ongoing partnership between Yarra Valley Water and Aqua Analytics exemplifies a commitment to innovation and sustainability in the water industry. By proactively addressing water loss, they have conserved a vital resource and ensured the continued reliability and affordability of water services for millions of Victorians. This collaboration is a model for other water utilities seeking to optimise their network management and achieve long-term water sustainability.

The Challenge

This Regional Water Utility faced the need for a fast, non-invasive method to assess the condition of a 300mm asbestos cement (AC) water main. The primary objectives were to:

Our Solution

The client engaged Aqua Analytics to conduct a pipeline condition assessment using KenWave’s DRI technology. This innovative acoustic solution offered a non-disruptive approach to evaluate the pipeline’s structural integrity without requiring costly and time-consuming excavations. The process involved:

Data Collection: A team of Aqua Analytics technicians utilised portable DRI equipment to record acoustic signals along the pipeline at predetermined access points.
Data Analysis: The collected data was securely transmitted to KenWave for analysis using proprietary algorithms that assessed pipe stiffness, identified leaks, and pinpointed areas of potential weakness.
Reporting: Aqua Analytics provided the client with a comprehensive report detailing the pipeline's condition, including a stiffness profile, leak locations, and recommendations for further action.

Results

One-Day Assessment: The entire assessment process, including data collection, analysis, and reporting, was completed within a single day, minimising disruption to the water supply system.
Validated Accuracy: The client excavated a section of pipe for independent laboratory testing. The results strongly correlate with Aqua Analytics' DRI assessment and measured wall thickness, validating the technology's accuracy.
Client Satisfaction: The client was highly satisfied with the efficiency, accuracy, and non-invasive nature of the DRI assessment, confirming its alignment with their needs.

Client Quote: “In our minds, the DRI results and the validation testing align.”

Key Benefits

Rapid Assessment: DRI technology enables quick pipeline condition assessments without requiring extensive excavations or service disruptions.
Accurate Results: DRI provides reliable data on pipe stiffness, leaks, and potential weak points, facilitating informed decision-making regarding repairs and replacements.
Cost-Effective: DRI's noninvasive nature reduces the costs associated with traditional assessment methods, making it a budget-friendly solution for water utilities.

Conclusion

The successful implementation of DRI technology showcases the power of innovative solutions in addressing the challenges of aging infrastructure. The rapid, accurate, and non-disruptive assessment gave the client valuable insights into their pipeline’s condition, empowering them to proactively manage their assets and ensure reliable water service for their community.