Stopping Leaks in Water Pipes is good.

The pipes are hard to get to. The leaks hard to detect.

In a world facing increasing water scarcity and rising costs, the problem of water loss through leaky pipes has become a pressing concern. However, advancements in technology are offering innovative solutions to this challenge, providing hope for a more sustainable and water-secure future.

According to a recent study, an estimated 20-30% of all treated water is lost due to leaks in water transmission pipelines. This aligns with a US report from the American Water Works Association (AWWA), which estimates 6 to 18 percent of all treated water is lost due to leaks in distribution systems. Billions of gallons of water are being lost, straining communities, cities, their budgets and the environment.

Let’s start in Dubai. An area one would think that puts a premium on not wasting water. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is perhaps at the forefront of towards detecting leaks in the water transmission underground pipelines. In 2023 alone, DEWA save 243 million gallons of water and 9.66 million United Arab Emirates Dirham. In play (pun) here is Smart Ball technology, where leaks are detected by self-propelled balls equipped with acoustic sensors. They travel through pipes and listen for leaks and cracks. The Smart Ball technology detected 81 leaks in the water transmission network in Dubai.

Then there’s California, where state authorities estimate that California’s water distribution systems lose up to 228 billion gallons of potable water annually from leakage or broken underground pipes. The state has been very progressive (pun!) in detecting such problematic leaks using:

• Correlating continuous acoustic monitoring (CCAM) technology which turns fire hydrants to analyze the flow of water.

• Satellites! Which capture and analyze images to identify underground leaks.

• Flow sensitive pressure reducing valve system (FSPRV) which analyzes flow volumes and water pressure on key pipes.

• District metered areas (DMAs) which take specific geographic areas and monitor water in and out while looking for anomalies.

Of all of these, satellite mitigation seems to be working the best. This technology uses satellite based L-band radar to detect the signature of potable water leaks underground, namely moist or wet soil.  During the course of the most recent one-year study satellite leak pre-location methodology returned a positive hit rate of 80% (other systems maxed at 41%.)

Satellites are also more cost effective, with the cost to find one leak using the CCAM method estimated at $7,927 while the cost to find one leak using the satellite method was $774.

Finally, of course, there’s AI, which is also being integrated into leak detection systems. AI-powered algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from sensors and other monitoring devices to identify anomalies in water flow and pressure that indicate potential leaks. This technology can detect leaks even in complex networks that are difficult to monitor using traditional methods, leading to more efficient identification and repair.

The challenge of addressing leaky pipes is not a new one. Dripping faucets have been known to drive yours truly totally bonkers. On a bigger, metropolitan scale they are much more complex and multifaceted, but we are tackling them! It’s encouraging and engaging.

With smart people exploring innovative solutions, we are creating a more efficient, sustainable and water-secure future for generations to come.

That’s good.