Page 290 - Water Loss Control

CHAPTER 16

Controlling Real Losses in

the Field—Proactive Leak

Detection

Reinhard Sturm
Julian Thornton

George Kunkel, P.E.

16.1 Introduction
Chapters 7 and 9 provide guidance in the steps of assessing the volume of real losses
and calculating the economic optimum volume of real losses for any water utility. Once
the nature and value of real losses have been identified, quantified, and economic sus-
tainable limits calculated, realistic targets can be set. Once the targets and budgets for
intervention have been identified then the most suitable methodologies for economi-
cally reducing and controlling the real losses can be selected. This chapter presents
some of the most common technologies and practical methods used for proactive leak-
age detection. Figure 16.1 shows the four arrows representing interventions against real
losses (Chaps. 17 to 19 will address the other three arrows in detail).
The practices that water utility managers employ to become aware of leaks in their
distribution system can be categorized as occurring in one of the two following opera-
tional modes:

1. Proactive Leak Detection: also known as active leak detection (ALD) is an
operational mode in which the water utility deploys resources and equipment
in order to actively detect leaks that are currently running undetected (also
called hidden losses). Proactive leak detection has various benefits:
• Reducing leakage reduces the production costs to treat and energize the

water.
• Can reduce the amount of treated water that is entering the sewer system—
adding unnecessary loading to the sewage treatment process.

259
Copyright © 2008, 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use.