This network is segregated into roughly 3,200 district meter areas (DMAs), which helps leakage reporting and ‘find & fix’ activities. We have ambitious leakage targets for the 2020-25 period, seeking to reduce reported leakage by 15% over the period, with similar reductions expected in the future. Our current approach to active leakage control focuses on the following seven areas:
- Reducing leakage run time by using analytics to provide timely identification that leakage is occurring
- Quicker and more precise identification of where leaks and bursts are occurring
- Delivering efficiencies in fixing bursts and leaks, whilst also being less disruptive to customers in the area
- Data improvements, to improve the accuracy of elements within leakage calculations
- Affordable solutions to identify and repair customer-side leaks
- Cost-effective solutions to rehabilitate our water network
Transient pressure management and reducing burst rates
We currently use a range of tools to support these focus areas, including:
- Acoustic logger deployment, both hydrophone and accelerometer, coupled with acoustic analytics packages.
- Use of acoustic correlators and grounds microphones.
- Use of in pipe leakage detection cameras and inbuilt hydrophone.
- Digital listening sticks.
- Satellite leakage detection.
- Nightline and pressure analysis.
- Pipe temperature to flow analytics.
- Vacuum excavation.
- Water main spray lining.
- Automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) customer water meters.
- Pressure reduction valves (PRVs), smart valve actuation and transient logging.