Leakages can easily be detected through noise loggers integrated in for example ground-level surface boxes. The loggers react to the sound of leaking water and enable operators to set in exactly when and where needed.
By using the technique of district metering areas, it is also possible to measure and manage water pressure in the different areas of the water supply network.
Pressure management is considered the single most beneficial, important, and cost-effective leakage management activity. The higher the pressure, the more water lost through bursts or leakages. Furthermore, most pipe bursts occur not only because of high pressure, but rather due to ongoing pressure fluctuations forcing the pipes to continuously expand and contract, resulting in stress fractures.
For pressure management, control valves are essential. Control valves are regulating valves, able to maintain certain pressure, flow or level regardless of changes in the supply network. Therefore, they can assist in reducing water losses while upholding the best conditions for the network equipment.
Pressure management is also an efficient way of reducing unnecessary energy consumption. By allowing for a lower pressure in general, especially during off-peak hours, energy consumption for pumping can be reduced. The pressure can be adjusted to the critical point at a strategical consumer in the DMA, which means that no energy will be used to pump water to a higher level than necessary.
