As high-tech techniques fail to detect leaks

The recent pipeline burst at Marappalam in the city occurred at a place where the KWA had conducted leak-detection tests in November. The photo shows an earthmover in action recently at a burst site at Pottakuzhy. Photo: S. Gopakumar

The three bursts on a 400-mm pipeline in the city last week is raising questions on the efficacy of the high-tech leak detections tests conducted by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) as part of efforts to bring down wastage of water.

The primo pipeline had burst at Pottakuzhy and Marappalam in quick succession, disrupting water supply to several residential areas in the Pattom and Medical College areas for two days.

Test conducted

The burst at Marappalam had occurred at a point where the water utility did the leak-detection tests in November last using Sahara, a wired technology to detect air traps, leaks, and unauthorised tapings. The sensor attached to a wire had shot videos of the pipe’s interiors for a 50 metre stretch. For scanning one metre, it cost the utility Rs.1,000.

“In the last one year, at least 40 km of the transmission and distribution networks were scanned using the technology. The cost incurred could be around Rs.65 lakh. Even after spending so much money, we were not able to detect any major leaks or prevent pipeline bursts,” said a KWA engineer.

In the beginning, a section of the engineers had questioned the use of a costly technology without conducting a proper assessment of the network.

“First, a detailed assessment of the network should have been done to find out the areas where there is a possibility of leak. A loss in a distribution line could be assessed by verifying the mismatch in the quantum of water pumped into the pipe and quantum of water consumed. If there is a huge variation, it could be due to an undetected leak or illegal tapping. The tests should have been conducted after that,” said a senior engineer.

The KWA has awarded the project to the Delhi-based, Four ITS Private Ltd., which executes the work through the Canada-based company, Pure Technologies, and the Manila,-based Maynilad Water Services Inc., using advanced technologies — Smart Ball and Sahara.

Smart Ball is a free-swimming acoustic leak detector capable of detecting very small leaks. The cost of one ball is around Rs.6.5 lakh.