What if your meters could hear the leaks you cannot see?

Mads Sckerl

Senior Vice President – Water Division, Kamstrup

Cutting-edge acoustic leak detection is changing the game of smart metering and giving utilities an effective tool to target and fight non-revenue water.

Non-revenue water remains one of the water industry’s main challenges and up to 31 % of water loss comes from leaks in service connections. With limited knowledge about the state of the service connections, locating these leaks can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Therefore, leakage detection is often based on a combination of trial and error, theoretical models and simple gut feeling.

Your network is talking – let your meters listen

Based on our proven ultrasonic technology, we have developed a solution that combines smart metering and acoustic leakage detection. We’ve developed a new solution featuring a new smart meter, the flowIQ® 2200, with in-built acoustic leak detection as well as a software module that visualises the noise data. With it, you can let every smart meter work for you to help locate leaks and create an unprecedented transparency in your distribution network. Acting like a fine-meshed network of noise-loggers, the meters listen to the distribution lines and the service connections to detect possible leakages.

Up to 31 % of water loss comes from leaks in service connections.

So far, the flowIQ® 2200 water meter is being used by more than 200 utilities in 18 countries and several of them have seen almost instant results. One utility found the first leak one hour after they started working with Leak Detector, while another was able to quickly identify six leaks that would otherwise have remained undetected. Another utility has currently recorded leaks in 34% of the service connections where the new meter has been installed.

Just like these utilities, you can get the tools needed to optimise your leakage localisation. Identify and verify potential leakages before they develop into large scale bursts and target your resources to where they will create the most value.

A more proactive approach to leakage detection

With a faster and more efficient leak detection, you reduce your cost per identified leak and can find the low-hanging fruits for reducing your non-revenue water and reducing your operational costs.

Detailed knowledge, about high-risk installations with possible leaks and the overall condition of your network, will enable you to prioritise your daily efforts to when and where they will have the biggest impact. You could even postpone investments in maintenance, renovation or additional capacity.

Early detection of leaks also limits consequential damage and allows you to provide more proactive customer service by, for instance, warning customers about potential leaks.