Water scarcity is a growing global concern, and the Isle of Man is no exception. Faced with the dual challenges of drought and high water demand, the Manx Utilities Authority turned to innovative solutions to address its water leakage issues. By leveraging satellite technology, the utility was able to optimise its limited resources and achieve a significant reduction in water leakage. This case study highlights how ASTERRA’s satellite-based leak detection services, implemented in partnership with SUEZ, helped Manx Utilities achieve a 5% reduction in leakage rates over just three months.
Defining the Issue
The Isle of Man, a small island with a population of 85,000, faces unique challenges in water management. Severe droughts in recent years have necessitated hosepipe bans, while the island’s residents have the highest per capita water consumption in the UK, averaging 370 litres per person per day. This demand spikes even further during the Isle of Man TT races, which bring an additional 43,000 visitors to the island.
The island’s water distribution network spans 1,800 km of mains, divided into 74 District Metered Areas (DMAs). However, the system operates without metering, and its hilly topography results in an average system pressure of 58m (5.7 Bar). With an average daily water production of 30 million litres, the network experiences significant leakage, with non-revenue water (NRW) estimated at 7.14 million litres per day.
Compounding these challenges, the utility had only one engineer and two technicians available to address leakage issues. With limited manpower, prioritising leakage reduction activities became critical. Manx Utilities needed a solution that could efficiently identify leaks and optimise the use of its scarce resources.
The Solution
To tackle these challenges, Manx Utilities partnered with SUEZ to implement ASTERRA’s satellite-based leak detection services. This innovative technology uses satellite imagery to detect underground leaks without the need for ground-based equipment. The decision to adopt this approach was driven by the island’s unique circumstances, including its isolation, limited workforce, and the need for a scalable solution.
Satellite technology offered several advantages:
- Comprehensive Network Coverage: The ability to survey the entire network for leaks at scale
- Non-Invasive Detection: No need to install equipment in the ground, reducing disruption and costs
- Pipe Material Agnostic: Effective across all types of pipes, including trunk mains, service pipes, and customer-side leaks
- Enhanced Efficiency: By identifying probable leak locations, the technology minimised field inspection time and maximised the detection of leaks.
Over three months, the satellite technology identified 144 Points of Interest (POIs) for potential leaks. Field crews investigated 83% of these POIs, leading to the detection and repair of 113 leaks.
Results
The implementation of satellite-based leak detection yielded impressive results. Key performance metrics included:
- Leak Detection Efficiency: 1.55 leaks found per kilometre surveyed and 3.3 leaks found per crew day
- Significant Leak Identification: Ten of the detected leaks were classified as significant in size
- Leakage Reduction: The leakage rate per property was reduced by 5%, from 6.2 litres per property per hour to 5.9 litres per property per hour.
These results demonstrate the effectiveness of satellite technology in addressing water leakage issues, even with a limited workforce. By optimising resource allocation and prioritising high-probability leak locations, Manx Utilities was able to make meaningful progress in reducing water loss.
Differentiating Factors
The success of this initiative highlights the transformative potential of satellite technology in water management. Key differentiating factors include:
- Scalability: The ability to survey an entire network without the need for ground-based equipment
- Precision: The technology can detect leaks that might otherwise remain hidden for years, providing a level of insight that traditional methods cannot match
- Versatility: Effective across various pipe materials and types, from trunk mains to customer-side leaks
- Resource Optimisation: By reducing the time and effort required for field inspections, the technology enables utilities to make the most of their limited resources.
Conclusion
The Manx Utilities Authority’s partnership with SUEZ and ASTERRA demonstrates how innovative technology can address pressing water management challenges. By adopting satellite-based leak detection, the utility was able to overcome its resource constraints and achieve a 5% reduction in leakage rates in just three months. This case study serves as a compelling example of how utilities can leverage advanced technologies to optimise operations, preserve water resources, and address the growing challenges of water scarcity.
