WET News

SEPTEMBER 2015 WET NEWS 23 A solution: Managing network pressure better Data-informed technologies can make water distribution networks smarter, says Andrew Burrows. A new generation of technologies that blend data science with engineering excellence provide an intelligent alternative that safeguards utility assets. South East Water, for instance, has reduced water loss by 4.9 million litres per day since installing i2O technology in 148 district metered areas. With i2O installed at another UK utility, Anglian Water, losses from burst pipes and leaks in the parts of the network in which it is used have been reduced by 56% and 40%, respectively. i2O has also helped Affinity Water (formerly Veolia Water) maintain customer service levels and cut leakage despite very large and unpredictable changes in demand associated with supplying Wentworth Golf Club. The implementation of i2O technology across 31 DMAs at Affinity Water is helping to save 1.5 million litres of water a day and nearly £100,000 a year in water wastage reduction. The success of these schemes begins with understanding precisely what is happening in the network. Smart pressure management starts with the initial monitoring of water flow and pressures. Loggers capture this data and deliver it to i2O via a mobile phone network. Combined with i2O's remote control capabilities and the ability to automate the pressure optimisation process, this data provides water utilities with the insight and agility to implement precisely the right level of pressure control for each area of the network at any given point in time. This reduces the excess pressures that damage the network and accelerate leakage, and provides the ability to deliver a consistently good level of service. The data gathered to opti- mise network performance is also used in innovative ways. Water networks are a particu- larly harsh environment. Aging networks burst more frequently than new ones, while grit, stone, and lime scale can cause pressure reduction valves to become jammed, resulting in pressure surges or customer ser- vice problems. Increasing numbers of water companies are using the water pressure and flow data provided by i2O's loggers to monitor and provide insight into the condition of network assets. Engineers at i2O work with customers to analyse data anomalies and patterns relating to specific network asset faults. Comparing network data with previous faults allows water companies to immediately understand possible problems concrete steel clean water civils waste water The kit: Leakage repair Source One Environment www.s1e.co.uk Two leakage repair products have been used in unusual ways to achieve a quick, cost-effective fix to a defective sewer pipe at a school in Wales. Recent alterations at the school had highlighted issues with the condition of a private foul line, resulting in smells emanating from macerated fluid from a septic holding tank. Following a detailed inspection and liaison with the local authority, it was agreed that the existing 150mm clay pipe should be lined with a 110mm flexible UPVC duct. It was confirmed that there would be no issue in reducing the pipe bore under the school and returning it to its full 150mm diameter at the next live chamber. The key challenge for this particular solution was to ensure that the new ducting was properly secured to the current sewer line, with no possibility of seepage into the void between the two pipes, which could cause further issues. Lee Davidson, director of Elite Pipeline Services, who carried out the works, says: "We pulled the 110mm pipe through the existing 6" clay pipe via a disused manhole within the property and used a Pipe Doctor kit to join the 110mm pipe to the 6" pipe in the upstream manhole, where the waste enters. In the downstream manhole, we used the SealGuard II product to seal between the 4" and 6" pipe to great effect." Pipe Doctor is the only WRc-approved no-dig patch repair system, originally designed to refurbish broken areas of pipe. A fibre glass mat is impregnated with resin that sets to a permanent, watertight, solid area, which is guaranteed for ten years. Pipe Doctor is available in kits for straight pipes, swept bends and lateral connections. SealGuard II is a polyurethane grout usually injected directly into flowing water to instantly halt leaks. It expands to fill any void and cures within minutes, creating an effective seal with no time delay. and where they have occurred. The data may also be used for the identification of symptoms that indicate a problem is about to occur and prompt the implementation of a proactive cure. There is enormous potential for data-informed technologies to make water distribution net- works smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. Using smart pressure management, i2O is helping 66 water compa- nies save approximately 250 million litres of water daily. While there remains much work to be done — to reduce leakage and bursts as part of wider initiatives to address water scarcity and improve the efficiency and reliability of supply — progress is sure to continue due to the incentives of savings in maintenance costs and energy consumption alone. With these technologies, greater network visibility allows more precise control and the ability to automatically and continuously optimise network performance. The same data on which this work relies is providing hugely valuable insight with the potential to fundamentally improve how networks are monitored and maintained. n Andrew Burrows is chief technology officer at i2O Water.

• Cover