The issue

In their five-year Asset Management Plan (AMP) the major UK utility company, South Staffs Water, incorporating Cambridge Water, committed to reduce water leakage. The target is to reduce total leakage by a minimum of 15% from 2019/20 levels by 2024/25. This transformational reduction is to be achieved through a combination of prevention and active leakage control, identifying innovation in both areas to improve efficiency.

The solution

The Leakage Strategy Manager from South Staffs Water turned to SUEZ for assistance and were introduced to Utilis’ satellite leak detection technology. To verify the new technology the water company conducted extensive trials and subsequently implemented the technology across two parts of their territory, a total of 6000km of distribution and trunk mains pipework. Several project parameters were measured and compared with regular leak detection without satellite aid.

The results

  • Leakage savings of over 2 million litres per day.
  • Total costs per MLD of £180,000 which included the satellite leak detection, follow up by ground technicians and all repairs.
  • Leaks detected across all types of asset types (mains, customer, ferrule, valve, hydrant, etc).
  • Leaks detected across all types of ground cover (tarmac, earth, concrete, brick, etc).
  • Leaks detected across all pipe materials.

2

ML/d saved

£180k

saving per ML/d saved

Results comparison

Detection: Leaks per technician per day

  • Existing method - 0.3-0.5
  • Satellite leak detection - 2.5-3.1
  • Increase: 700%

Leak size: Average litres per second per technician day

  • Existing method - 0.04-0.07
  • Satellite leak detection - 0.28-0.40
  • Increase: 618%

 

 

Photo credit: Jaxa