Leakage remains a significant challenge for the water industry, with approximately 21% of water entering the public supply in England and Wales being lost. With climate change and a growing population contributing to widespread water stress, the pressure on water companies to address leaks has never been higher.
To tackle this issue, Ofwat has set a stringent 16% leakage reduction target for the 2020-25 AMP7 period, expecting companies to implement new techniques without increasing costs for customers. UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) is looking even further ahead, asking how zero leakage can be achieved by 2050.
Given the ageing distribution network, which is increasingly susceptible to leaks and bursts, it is clear that utilities must innovate to meet their commitments. Fortunately, industrial IoT is transforming the industry.
For water companies, installing numerous cost-effective leak detection devices has simplified the capture of real-time operational data. By utilizing and transmitting this newly available data, companies can perform strategic operational analysis to enhance efficiencies and reduce costs.
Leak detection specialist Ovarro’s research and development team collaborates closely with utilities to develop top-tier technologies. The Sheffield-based global company partnered with Anglian Water to create the groundbreaking remote leak detection device, Enigma3hyQ, and the cloud-based data platform, PrimeWeb.
A Case Study from Ovarro
In 2017, the utility approached Ovarro with the idea to enhance existing technology by merging two products—a correlating noise logger and a site-based hydrophone. A collaborative development team, including experts from both organizations, was formed to create the hardware and software components of the Enigma3hyQ system. This included a workflow management app and PrimeWeb, a cloud-based data collection and analytics platform for monitoring pressure and flow and identifying leaks.
The Enigma3hyQ loggers utilize immersed acoustic hydrophone sensors to detect leaks by “listening” to sound waves within the pipe. These fixed devices transmit data via 3G or GPRS to PrimeWeb, where it is analyzed by the utility’s leakage teams. The data, accessible remotely, allows users to quickly identify issues such as unusual usage or low pressure, with PrimeWeb providing deeper insights.
A UK-patented mathematical correlation technique is central to the operation of Enigma3hyQ. When a leak occurs between two loggers, the noise takes a measurable time to reach each logger. Digital signal processing algorithms correlate the recordings to determine the time difference between the sounds. Using the speed of sound in the pipe and the distance between the loggers, the system calculates the leak location, synchronizing daily for accuracy. This precision was unattainable with traditional acoustic detection, and fixed network options were previously too costly.
The sensors effectively detect leaks over long distances and in plastic pipes, a significant challenge in the industry due to the material’s poor noise transmission. Anglian Water’s smart water strategy manager, Andy Smith, called the technology a game changer, emphasizing the collaborative development process to achieve the best solution.
The technology has delivered multiple benefits for Anglian Water. Between April 2018 and January 2021, the system identified 6,783 leaks, making it three times more efficient than traditional techniques. On average, Anglian Water achieves a 1:1 ratio of leaks found to points of interest issued. The ability to precisely pinpoint leaks allows for continuous, real-time network monitoring, improving response rates, reducing customer complaints, and minimizing the risk of regulatory fines. Moreover, enhanced leak management improves water quality and network pressure, potentially lowering pumping costs and operational expenses due to fewer field teams and less above-ground disruption.
Efficient network management benefits customers by potentially lowering costs, reflected in their bills, and enhancing supply resilience. This project, a best practice example of collaboration between utilities and suppliers, was recognized at the Water Industry Awards in May 2021 as the Alliancing and Partnership Initiative of the Year.
Traditionally, innovative companies develop solutions and attempt to sell them to UK water companies without fully understanding the utility’s specific challenges and requirements. Anglian Water adopted a dynamic approach, using its internal expertise to partner on a solution tailored to its needs and those of the broader industry. The utility leveraged Ovarro’s engineering, R&D, and data analytics capabilities, maintaining transparency throughout the development process. Ovarro gained valuable industry insight, specific district metered area information, and access to test and trial sites.
Josh Britton, Ovarro’s global product line manager, stated, “The success of the Enigma3hyQ demonstrates the potential when suppliers and utilities collaborate, value feedback, and develop new solutions together.”
Continuing their innovation in leak detection, Ovarro updated the technology in 2021, launching the Enigma3 BB. This remote leak detection device uses Enigma3hyQ technology but is installed directly into an operational meter box chamber—a first in the industry. This new installation option provides utilities with an alternative means of connecting to the water mains network with more access points.