Clean water and wastewater: what’s the true cost of a leak?
In UK clean water pipelines, leakage has been a permissible practice for many years because it’s considered an associated byproduct of transporting water through the network under pressure. For this reason a small leak often isn’t a costly repair, however when a small leak develops into a larger leak the cost can increase significantly for a water utility.
The high pressure in trunk mains combined with their large diameter means small leaks can quickly turn into large leaks, impacting water supply throughout the network which can cause customer supply interruptions.
While the wastewater network is often predominantly gravity fed, pressurized sections of a pipeline known as rising sewer mains are prone to bursts, often with little predictability. They are often in close proximity to local water courses too, resulting in pollution incidents.
In instances like trunk main and rising sewer main bursts, the true cost of a pipeline leak is revealed. Utilities need to consider more than just the financial cost of the penalties they will incur from the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat).
There’s a reputational cost involved when small leaks escalate into more serious leak events, with Ofwat already reporting that customer trust and satisfaction in water utilities is falling.1 For wastewater pipelines there’s also an environmental impact to consider as leaks and spills can cause pollution incidents and impact public health.
To avoid the escalation of potential risks, utilities need to start taking the repair of small leaks more seriously. Critical to this though is an effective leak detection system.
Bridging the gap between leak detection and repair
Industry focus is currently shifting towards finding ways to fix water leaks with no dig technology.2,3 Also known as trenchless technology, this method involves optimizing underground pipelines without relying on excavation. Common methods of no dig pipeline repair include cured in place pipe (CIPP) lining, pipe bursting and slip lining.
With no dig technology, utilities can minimize disruption to the public with less road closures and traffic disruptions, save on costs due to reduced excavation and labor and complete quick repairs.
The success of no dig technology to patch up leaks is also made simpler by leak detection technology that emphasizes speed and accuracy.
The importance of early-stage leak detection
For no dig technology in the water industry, the fast and accurate detection of small leaks can lead to more time available to complete necessary pipeline repairs, as well as reducing the costs of repair.
Using a combination of 60-480 Hz pressure data and signal processing algorithms from advanced instrumentation, it’s possible to see deeper into water network data and any small new leaks that have formed. As an example, Atmos’ negative pressure wave (NPW) algorithm can detect these leaks early by looking for the NPW that propagates in either direction of the pipeline when a new leak occurs.
With the support of instrumentation, Atmos’ software collects multiple samples per second compared to traditional data collection solutions that sample data far slower (see Figure 1) for accurate leak location. For fast leak detection, Atmos’ early warning solutions can detect and alarm on new leaks within 30-120 seconds.*
*Data based on estimates using currently available hardware at Atmos
Repairing leaks can be easier
(if you find them early)
As no dig technology gains momentum as a method for leak repairs in the water industry, it’s crucial for utilities to apply fast and accurate leak detection technologies to identify the repair locations.
Atmos has 30 years’ experience stopping emerging leaks from becoming established in the oil and gas industry and has brought this approach to the water industry.
Contact us to find out more.
References
2 https://www.aquatechtrade.com/news/urban-water/thames-water-trials-no-dig-leak-repair-solution
