Defining leak probability and size in the UK and across 5 property age eras
Requirements
Plumbing losses appear as a component of minimum night flow, so any error in plumbing losses leads to an equivalent error in leakage.
A modern, large-scale, data-driven plumbing loss estimate is required.
UKWIR commissioned Invenio to deliver an updated model of the balance of customer use, plumbing losses and underground supply pipe losses in water delivered to customers. (UKWIR Report 20/WM/08/72)
Solution
Invenio targeted a representative sample of 5000 differently aged properties in four water utilities’ territories. Using the Stop.Watch methodology, Invenio was able to identify leaks at these properties. The water companies performed follow- ups and repairs.
Invenio analysed leak locations and volumes, the age of the house, percentage of successfully follow- ups, etc. and produced a summary report that proves the baseline number of leaking properties in an average area is 12%, and the average plumbing losses are 1.4 l/prop/hour.
Most of the contribution to the plumbing loss value in this data is from relatively small leaks. Plumbing losses of less than 10 l/hr constitute 53%, and 89% is from plumbing losses which are less than 60 l/hr.
Key Benefits
- Baseline picture of UK Leakage is far clearer
- 12% of properties in an average area are leaking
- Across all UK properties, there are plumbing losses of 1.4 l/prop/hour
- 53% of leakage comes from leaks smaller than 10 l/h.
- 90% of leakage comes from leaks smaller than 60 l/h.
Written by Trevor Hooton
For the complete UKWIR Report: https://ukwir.org/achieving-zero-leakage-by-2050-phase-2-understanding-the-balance-between-customer-use-supply-pipe-leakage-and-plumbing-losses-in-water-delivered-to-household-properties-0
