The bigger water utilities have the resources, but small utilities face many of the same problems — namely failing pipeline infrastructure and water loss. So what are the solutions and best practices within small utilities’ grasp? One small utility shared its successful approach to controlling water loss as guidance for those with similar struggles.
This leak was discovered using LeakFinderRT with surface mounted sensors. The total sensor-to-sensor spacing was 450 m (1,480 ft).
Melaka is a relatively small state on the southwest side of the Malay Peninsula with a city so rich in history and beauty that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a population around 850,000, the Melaka Water Company Ltd. (SAMB) manages roughly 270,000 service connections for commercial and residential customers.
While utilities use sophisticated systems to supply clean water as well as collect and treat wastewater, the effort to manage incidents and outages leaves room for improvement. Water utilities often rely on manual processes to handle customer reports of leaks, loss-of-service or quality issues.
Leakage is one of the primary concerns for water utilities worldwide, yet North American investment in water loss has, historically, not addressed the problem with sufficient urgency or expertise.
In California, water is precious, competition for water is fierce and conservation is critical. In the midst of the state’s worst drought to date, Governor Jerry Brown declared historic statewide mandatory water restrictions calling for a 25 percent reduction in water usage through February 2016.
With a population of 55,000, the town of Castle Rock, Colorado, was named to “Money” magazine’s list of 100 Best Places to Live in America. It’s also a town on the cutting edge of managing its water, wastewater and storm water system assets with the help of the Hydrant and Valve Inspector from AMERICAN Flow Control (AFC) and Trimble Navigation.
The Water Systems Division of Brockville, a city located in the Thousand Islands region of Eastern Ontario, serves more than 22,000 residents and businesses that call the city home, as well as a portion of the neighboring Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley.
Water — our most precious resource — is depleted globally by multiple activities. Common uses include drinking water, fire protection, agricultural/irrigation, manufacturing, food processing, etc. As our global population continues to increase, so does the need for fresh water supply. As a dynamic resource with many universal commitments, it is not surprising, with so many different global variables, that water scarcity is becoming a concern for both developed and developing countries. By Michelle Pawlowicz, marketing specialist, McCrometer
With LeakFinderST, Echologics introduces a whole level of speed and accuracy in locating leaks. Until now, leak noise correlators have had limitations in pinpointing leaks in mains. Speed and accuracy were just relative measures.
The European Commission’s Aerosol Dispensers Directive (ADD) legislation (UN ADR 2013, 75/324/EEC) mandates that aerosol dispensers and small receptacles containing compressed gas (gas cartridges) must pass a leak-proof test before they are transported. Cascade’s CT2211 leak detection system detects and rejects leaking aerosol cans up to a rate of 500 cans per minute. The system is contactless, ensuring minimal product damage or contamination. With the increasing number of safety and quality standards required, Cascade’s CT2211 will ensure current and future regulatory compliance.
Pressurized can leak detection system for low speed lines up to 60 cans per minute. The CT2215 is designed for ease of installation and is supplied on a hardware only basis.
A proven technology platform designed to monitor water transmission mains.
Telog offers the industry’s leading remote data acquisition system including the most comprehensive family of battery powered, environmentally rugged wireless monitors available from any single supplier.
Many water utilities lose tremendous volumes of water through leaks and destructive pipeline ruptures. The American Society of Civil Engineers put daily domestic losses at 7 billion gallons per day.
The Leak Sensor is an advanced approach to distribution system leak detection. Part of Itron's ChoiceConnect Fixed Network advanced metering solution, the sensor is the result of merging the 100W communications module module with an acoustic sensor to create a single point for collecting meter data and monitoring for distribution system leaks.
The JCS Industries Model 4500 Gas Leak Detector/Monitor is a low cost, non-contact and easy to install measurement device designed for monitoring trace amounts of compressed gaseous water treatment chemicals such as, but not limited to: chlorine, sulfur dioxide and ammonia in a closed or open environment.
For those unable to attend, the Internet of Things (IoT) was firmly part of the conversation at this year’s American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) in Philadelphia. If you haven’t heard the term, you’re going to hear a lot more of it in the years ahead. None more so than in the world of water distribution systems where it can provide real-time reporting to utility managers charged with systems upkeep, maintenance and reliability.
Solving the problem of non-revenue water starts with leak detection. Many utilities live with leaks because of the time, labor, and expense involved in detecting, prioritizing and fixing them.
As water loss continues to concern many utilities, American Leak Detection’s franchise business model continues to “plug many a hole.” As Adam Gray, Director of Marketing for American Leak Detection, explains in this Water Online Radio interview, the franchise model is effective on numerous levels, whether it be providing the leak detection expertise that a utility doesn’t necessarily have on staff or allowing leak detection experts to share their insights and knowledge across the franchise network.
Eric Stacey, Product Manager with Echologics, recently sat down with Water Online Radio to discuss leak detection, pipeline condition assessment, and permanent monitoring. As more and more sensors are put into the water distribution system, utilities are monitoring the formation of leaks and becoming more informed about their water loss.
In a time of pervasive drought throughout the Western United States, combined with the relatively newfound ability to account for every ounce of water treated and distributed, it’s no surprise that huge emphasis has been placed on smart, data-savvy metering.
A city in New Jersey is facing criticism for failing to prosecute a small-scale water heist allegedly carried out last year.
Infrastructure failure resulted in a major fish kill in Iowa this week.
It’s so hot in St. Louis County, MO, that water mains are bursting at a higher rate than usual.
Following months of anticipation among water industry pros, the Trump administration has rolled out its proposal for how to rehabilitate the nation’s infrastructure.
The water division in Rockford, IL, treated 6.4 billion gallons of water last year. Yet only 5.1 billion gallons were delivered to the city’s 55,000 customers.
According to the U.S. EPA, $97 billion will be needed over the next two decades to control water loss, comprising 29 percent of the needed upgrade costs in the space overall. The agency estimates that average water loss for a system is 16 percent, with 75 percent of that being recoverable.
California water utilities will need to report water loss figures to the state under a new law that aims to reduce non-revenue water and conserve resources.
Some industry observers say the future of clean water depends on the convergence of several high-tech industries in a field known as “databotics.”
This video explains how Aquis Leak Detection can reduce the amount of Non-revenue Water by reducing loss of water through existing leaks and reduce the risk of additional leaks. Furthermore energy consumption, emissions and use of chemicals are reduced and water quality is improved.
While it often starts with a leak, historically many utilities have waited until there is an evident problem or rupture to react. Today’s utilities have an option. Imagine being immediately notified about a problem in an main. The EchoShore-TX platform will call, text, or email you promptly after detecting a leak or other anomaly.
As a leading provider of acoustic-based technologies for water loss management, leak detection and pipe condition assessment, Echologics is dedicated to helping water utilities reduce water loss.
An interview with Mark Loveday, Manager, European Region and Mark Nicol, Business Development Manager - Asia Pacific.
For the Bethpage Water District on New York's Long Island, providing first class customer service is a top priority. But antiquated meters -- and the subsequent billing complaints and maintenance requirements -- had become a problem. The Badger Meter BEACON Meter Reading System became the solution.
Find leaks fast with the Aclara® STAR® ZoneScan leak detection system. The industry's only remotely correlated acoustic leak-detection system cost effectively identifies small leaks before they become major problems.
Federal Electricity and Water Authority, who provides more than 300,000 customers in the Northern part of the United Arab Emirates with electricity and water, is investing in smart water metering solutions.
Excavation avoidance will be the focus of an open-day hosted at Aquam Pipe Diagnostics’ (APD) new training and demonstration facility in Derby on 12 October 2017.
FATHOM Water Management, Inc. (“FATHOM”), the utility-to-utility Smart Grid for Water technology leader, recently announced a new partnership with the city of Lakewood, California.
Access to clean, safe water is one of the world’s pressing needs, yet today’s water distribution systems lose an average of 20 percent of their supply because of leaks. These leaks not only make shortages worse but also can cause serious structural damage to buildings and roads by undermining foundations. By David L. Chandler | MIT
The 2nd biennial North American Water Loss Conference (NAWL 2017) will be held December 3-5 in San Diego this year, marking another significant step forward in the water loss industry in North America. NAWL 2017 will be hosted by the California-Nevada Section AWWA, in partnership with the Alliance for Water Efficiency, AWWA, and the U.S. EPA.
TaKaDu, a global leader in Integrated Event Management solutions for the water industry, announced recently that Gold Coast Australia, covering an area of around 3,300km in South East Queensland, is incorporating TaKaDu’s solution into its network to increase operational efficiency and reduce water loss.
