Where in the World is Our Water Going?

By Alyscia Sutch

Aging infrastructure is an ever growing and changing hot topic among utilities, municipalities and property owners alike. It is no surprise that North America's pipeline infrastructure is in dire need of renewal since some of it dates back over a century, but the price tag that comes along with it isn't cheap. Further, the age and state of our pipeline infrastructure is somewhat of a mystery since it spans below ground for miles, out of sight and often out of mind until there is a cause for concern.

JD7's camera system can be operated in a live water main under full pressure.

Advancements in technology for inspection and assessment now enable utilities to investigate pipe wall conditions, material validation, sediment issues, blockages, contamination and quality issues, and even predict life expectancy of the pipe. Addressing these issues can help answer the question, "Where in the world is our water going?"

Money Down the Drain

The International Energy Agency estimates that, on average, 34 percent of water pumped globally ends up as non-revenue water (NRW). Unauthorized consumption through theft, losses through metering inaccuracies, and real losses from water leaks and main breaks all contribute to non-revenue water.

Pipes have life cycles that can range anywhere from 15 to 100 years, depending on the pipe material and the environment. Therefore, pipe age alone is a poor indicator of the need for rehabilitation or replacement. Rather, it is important to use programs to evaluate the actual condition of infrastructure to ensure that investments are being prioritized in the right order. Regular condition assessment and inspection programs can help with this prioritization.

Pipeline assessment and inspection programs are a proactive approach to finding the best way to prioritize budgets for renewing systems and managing assets, while also considering the health and safety of workers and the public. Pipelines span for miles and are constantly at work delivering natural resources to homes and businesses across the globe. The consequences of not using the best technology to manage systems come with many repercussions, and ignoring the current state of utility pipelines is no longer an option.

JD7 Investigator Water can navigate through an existing hydrant into the tee piece position of a water main and pinpoint leaks.

Each year, there are approximately 240,000 water main breaks in the U.S. alone, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is a clear indicator that America's water infrastructure is in need of repair.

Before we can repair leaks, we first need to find them. Leak detection plays a key role in reducing non-revenue water as it allows utilities to optimize their system performance by surveying distribution mains (and other systems). Utilities can lower repair costs by finding and repairing leaks before a costly main break occurs.

Leak detection technologies, like the JD7 Investigator Water, for example, can help reduce the number of water main breaks and, consequently, increase recovery of NRW. This system can be operated internally under live mains pressure. It can navigate through an existing hydrant into the tee piece position of a water main and pinpoint leaks. The Investigator Water has been in use on over 16,000 insertions into live water mains since 2006 in the UK, with remarkable savings to water utility providers.

History of the Investigator

JD7 Ltd was approached in 2005 by water utilities in the UK to develop a camera system that could be operated in a live water main under full pressure, and be navigated through an existing hydrant beyond the ‘tee' piece of a water main. This would be the first time a camera was inserted through a live fire hydrant directly and safely into a clean water system with no disruption to supplies. JD7 proceeded to develop an inspection system with a capability of distances up to 300 feet (100 meters), which is now marketed as the Investigator & Investigator+. The natural progression was to a tethered system for the larger diameter mains over longer distances and thus evolved the large diameter system LDS1000, with a range of up to 3,280 feet (1,000 meters).

The system is housed within a peli-case, which includes the cable, mini-laptop, switches, drive mechanism and battery, making the system portable and durable.

JD7 not only performs the live inspections and leak detections but also offers the technology to companies with ongoing training. One of the first to utilize the technology since JD7 was acquired by North American company Aquam Corporation was New York Leak Detection Inc., who recently used the JD7 Investigator to perform a pipeline assessment in New Jersey. With it, they confirmed the location of a leak in a 12-inch pressurized chilled water line that was over 10 feet underground.

Water at the End of the Tunnel

Many water utilities and contractors are aware of the issues around non-revenue water and are working together to develop water loss policies to find and recover the water at the end of the tunnel. As these policies continue to be put in place, so continues the need for time-tested technologies. By developing a comprehensive, proactive plan that includes pipeline assessment and inspection technologies, municipalities and utility companies can ensure optimal performance and keep revenue loss to a minimum.

About the Author: Alyscia Sutch is the Marketing and PR Manager for cleantech firm Aquam and its subsidiaries. She has a degree in public relations and works closely with construction, plumbing, mechanical and utility companies who provide infrastructure support, rehabilitation and diagnostics solutions for inside and outside infrastructure renewal.