Smart sensors reduce Adelaide's water leaks

An integrated network of more than 400 smart sensors spread across the Adelaide CBD has helped SA Water prevent 15 major breaks or water leaks since the system began collecting data in July 2017.

The network enables the utility to proactively identify and repair potential problems before they worsen and affect customers and commuters.

The program’s architect, SA Water Manager of Water Assets Dr Helen Edmonds, said the deployment is the largest of its kind in the country.

“The combination and volume of sensors installed across the water network in Adelaide hasn’t been seen before, and is delivering outcomes and learnings that will be applicable right across the country,” said Helen.

“As engineers, we’ve been immersed in rich data that’s helping us make informed decisions, but as South Australians striving to deliver a world-class service for our customers, we’re making vital in-roads to delivering a better customer experience.

“Although our network performance is among the best in Australia, we know that any water main break or service interruption has an impact on our customers, and we want to reduce that as much as possible.

“Identifying a potential leak and intervening has been hugely rewarding, but there’s also been a sense of accomplishment in analysing the data and understanding the immediacy of some sudden ruptures that didn’t offer any warning signals.”

The network comprises:

• 305 acoustic leak detection sensors
• 34 pressure sensors, of which 23 are transient loggers
• 11 flow meters
• 3 water quality monitors
• 100 smart meters on customer connections
   

Data from the sensors is transmitted over LTE and narrowband communications systems to an analytics platform at 5- to 15-minute intervals.

The acoustic sensors (accelerometers), which have an average range of 150 metres, monitor approximately 50% of the water main network in the CBD.

They are particularly focused on cast iron pipes located in areas where the potential impact of a break is highest.

Working with customers

The network has enabled SA Water to gain insights on the influences both within and outside of the network that can lead to faults, such as pressure transients from customer activity.

“One of the transient loggers detected a recurring event with a consistent hydraulic character, happening on the same day and time, every week, and it turned out to be the result of a large building’s fire service being tested,” said Edmonds.

“Having this information meant we could work together with the building owner to calm the weekly testing process, and also with the technical regulator to amend design standards for future builds.

“Importantly, it means the customer will have far less chance of a water main break right outside their building, and the interruption this would cause their operations,” she added.

While smart meter customers can monitor their water usage via an online portal, SA Water staff have already been able to identify abnormalities in customers’ consumption and suggest corrective action.

“We were able to alert a customer to 100 litres a minute being lost by a faulty float valve constantly refilling their building’s header tank, and the excess water just overflowing into the sewer,” said Edmonds.

“Left undetected until their next bill, the water loss alone in that case would have cost over $15,000 a month.”

According to Edmonds, the implementation had been so successful that further rollouts were planned for later this year across Adelaide’s water and wastewater networks.

“In just 10 months we’ve proven this combination of smart technology can effectively reduce the impact of water main breaks on our customers, so we now have an obligation to spread this benefit across as much of our network and customer base as possible,” she said.

SA Water was this year awarded Australian Digital Utility of the Year. Dr Edmonds will give a presentation on the smart water network at Ozwater’18 on Tuesday, 8 May, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/GioRez

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