Satellite water leak detection

AMP7 demands at least a 15% reduction in water leakage target. SUEZ satellite leak detection is a proven technology that can provide a step-change in reducing leakage when compared to traditional active leakage control.

Utilising patented algorithms originally developed to detect water on other planets, ASTERRA Recover imaging overlays satellite images onto existing GIS maps and allows users to accurately pinpoint leaks from the drinking water network. ASTERRA technology can detect ‘water mixed with soil’ and is as effective in the urban and rural environments.

Proved to be more accurate and less labour-intensive than other traditional active leakage control (ALC) methods, satellite water leak detection will help with the shortage of trained leakage technicians and allow you to prioritise your resources in a more effective way.

Acoustic water leak detection, although effective for certain parts of the network, rely on metallic pipework. Non-metallic pipework is significantly harder to detect using acoustics. Acoustics cannot scan a whole network the way satellite technology does.

Traditional active leakage control teams are over stretched

The role of the active leakage control technician is getting more challenging as a result and this is one of the reasons why there is a high turnover of ALC technicians - impacting on the efficiency of effective leak control. What’s needed is a combination of technology and specialist technicians.

How to achieve your target MLD with fewer technicians

As leakage reduction targets get higher, active leakage control technicians get harder to recruit – as well as retain. Technology is one answer to this issue – satellite leak detection, where employed, has shown to have at least a threefold increase in effectiveness.

For many UK companies, satellite leak detection has moved from being an innovative niche product to a normal, regular operating mode because of the challenging targets. AMP7 is challenging for many water companies but we know AMP8 will be hard too. The industry has a target of zero leakage by 2050.

Global

UK/Ireland

ASTERRA Recover is an award-winning satellite leak detection system. Its patented satellite leak detection algorithms were originally developed to detect water on other planets by parent company Utilis. Now this technology has been harnessed for water leak detection from pipelines of all types.

Raw images are captured using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors on the satellite. The sensors send out L-band signals that react differently when they hit ‘water mixed with soil’.

Data from the satellites is analysed and filtered. The analysis is to accurately gain the dielectric constant of everything scanned. Potable water has a specific dielectric constant, differing from everything else – even seawater, lake water or river water. This, therefore, is how we identify where the leaks are likely to be.

The location of each potential leak is overlaid onto a geographical map, allowing areas to be identified by the ground crew. The report can be presented in a variety of formats including industry-standard GIS files, or via a desktop application.

The location of each leakage site is overlaid onto a street map of a region and this is then sent to an app on the ALC technician’s phone. This gives a 100m area to cover to pinpoint the leak. Thus far, more than 57,200 leaks have been verified since 2017.

More job satisfaction and therefore less staff churn. For the technician, having a more targeted approach creates a more positive working environment with the added benefit of knowing that every leak found helps save natural water resources.

Many times more efficient – they go straight to the leak. More leaks found per crew day.

A recent analysis of a satellite leak detection project covering 8,000 km pipes scanned for one water company = 5.5 ML/d saving

Fixed acoustic listening devices can be very expensive compared to satellite leak detection. At SUEZ, we’d be pleased to present to you the cost-effectiveness of the ASTERRA Recover leak detection system. Satellite leak detection gives you the ability to cover the whole network regardless of geographical area.

Against using acoustic leak detection, we can prove the cost-effectiveness of satellite water leak detection, not only in staff costs but more importantly, in water saved.

Regular scanning with ASTERRA Recover ensures you keep an up-to-date snapshot of the state of your network – and you get a snapshot of the total network – impossible with traditional surveying methods.

After SUEZ had run satellite imagery leak detection, the number of leaks identified was between 2.5 and 3.5 per crew day – a massive increase from the average 1.3 per day using traditional acoustic methods, and saving around 950 million cubic metres of water since 2017.

The volume of leaks without satellite was 0.04 l/s vs. 0.28 l/s with satellite, thanks to the underground infrastructure analysis delivered by the ASTERRA Recover system. Since 2017, more than 57,200 leaks had been verified.