Identify more leaks with Satellite Leak Detection
Why satellite leak detection has become part of the South Staffs Water’s leakage reduction plans.
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