Stopping Water Waste: Expert Insights on Effective Leak Detection Strategies

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water systems lose an average of 14% of their treated water to leaks, with some systems losing as much as 60%. Leaks can happen anytime, anywhere, through pipeline joints and fittings or, worst case, when a pipe bursts. No matter the cause, leaks in the water distribution network contribute to undesirable results, including lost revenue, increased labor, service interruptions and water waste.

Leak detection plays an important role in minimizing water losses and ensuring operational safety for water distribution networks. A strategic and thoughtful leak detection system that provides high-resolution and high-frequency data at regular intervals provides a more accurate picture of pipeline health than simple snapshots in time. This proactive approach supports preventative maintenance, which extends the life of assets by identifying potential issues before they become critical failures.

Smart Water Solutions Expert Interview

Sean Lacaille is a Solution Architect with Badger Meter. But before that, he worked in the utility sector in Florida for 14 years. During this time, he held various roles, including operations manager, both in drinking water and wastewater collections. Here, he shares his perspectives on leak detection and how proactive pipeline monitoring can accurately detect, locate and notify water utilities of existing and emergent leaks.

During your time as a utility operations manager, how did leak detection fit into your utility's program?

Leak detection fell under the Operations team. On a typical day, we would have customers call and report surfacing leaks, and the utility would dispatch staff to verify and make the repair. As far as a formal leak detection program was concerned, we didn't have any of the sophisticated tools available today—I wish we would have. Many leaks can be non-surfacing or occur underground, so those phone calls weren't always giving us the full picture.

Based on your experience, why is it important for water utilities to have an effective and strategic leak detection program in place?

The reduction of unaccounted-for water loss (or non-revenue water) is probably the most critical reason to have a leak detection program. Another benefit that stands out to me is water conservation. Water is a critical resource. Only a small percentage of the world's water resources are available for consumption. Reducing waste is crucial.

Locating and reducing water leaks in your network can have a major impact on reducing other costs, like labor, chemicals and electricity. Because leaks typically get worse over time, fixing them early will help decrease operational repair costs.

A leak detection program can also have maintenance benefits. In addition to leak information, some sensors can collect pressure and transient information as well. That additional data can help you perform preventative maintenance to reduce pipe bursts. For example, if you're tracking transient information, you can use it to optimize your system and respond to a location like a pump stop or a valve that is not performing as intended. These insights help to reduce stress on pipes that potentially increase the likelihood of failures.

And then, last but not least, is improved customer service. Anytime water is running down the road for an extended period, customers are going to start thinking poorly of your utility and your Operations team. To them, it looks as though you're not taking care of the problem or that you don't care.

I recommend that any utility, no matter their situation, at least start a leak detection program. Don't just sit on the sidelines and assume you don't have existing leaks. More than likely, you have non-surfacing leaks that you can't see. Even if it's not your highest priority, implement a leak detection program and start looking for those hidden leaks. Reducing water loss is a great value for any utility.

What are some of the benefits of acoustic leak detection technology?

It's important to know not all acoustic technologies are built the same. If I were selecting a device, it would be one with the ability to listen to the water column—at a higher resolution. That information can be used to locate leaks using time-of-travel information. If you have two sensors, sound will travel simultaneously to each sensor. When it correlates, it determines how long it took to go to either one, which helps pinpoint that leak. That's an important feature of any good acoustic sensor.

Equally important is having the option for continuous monitoring. Some sensors can only measure while you're there and listening, and then you take the instrument with you. Having the ability to leave a sensor on site is a very important consideration when selecting a sensor. For instance, if you can continuously monitor a critical asset such as a large water transmission main, you’ll know right away when there's a problem—and that will help you in your operation greatly. On the other hand, if you must take the sensor with you, you lose eyes at that location, leaving you essentially blind to operations.

Where do you recommend installing acoustic leak detection technology within the distribution system?

I encourage leveraging existing assets, such as fire hydrants, air release valves (ARV) and pressure-reducing valves (PRV). Other locations may include large meter assemblies and booster pump stations. If necessary, you can install a new tap. This can benefit critical locations in the distribution network, such as on either side of a river crossing.

Why is it important to have high-resolution data?

Imagine you're looking at two pictures. They're the same image, but one is pixelated. You can kind of make out basic information, but it's not completely clear. The other picture is a high-resolution 4K or 8K photo. It is much clearer; you can make out details and collect more information. You're not just using your imagination to fill in the gaps.

It's the same with high-resolution data. You're getting a more granular level of information that a typical pressure device will miss altogether because of how rapidly an event can occur in the system. This is important because utilities can now use that information to allocate resources to specific locations or areas that will have the most impact within their utility system. With high-resolution data, you no longer have to guess—and hope you’re right—about where to focus your efforts.

What are some important questions a water utility should ask when evaluating leak detection technologies?

One of the best questions to ask is whether this specific device is the right one for my utility. Not all devices will be able to meet the utility's needs. Think about the installation process, the software, the hardware and additional features that can help a customer interact with the information. Will utility staff be able to review the data clearly? Will they be notified when and where there are problems in the network? Will it make staff more efficient? Employees are a critical resource at a water utility, so if a particular device or software platform can improve efficiency along the way, that can have a great impact on utility operations.

Final Thoughts

Implementing an effective leak detection program is vital for water utilities to reduce water loss and enhance efficiency. Advanced acoustic technologies allow for quick identification of leaks, lowering costs and improving service. By prioritizing proactive monitoring, utilities can extend asset lifespan and demonstrate their commitment to water conservation and customer satisfaction. Every utility should take steps towards better leak detection today.