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.
