Southern Water Trials SmartBall Leak Detection Technology

Southern Water is testing a SmartBall device which travels along water pipes and can detect weakened pipes before they become bursts.

Supported by partners Pure Technologies and Water Research Centre Limited (“WRc”), Southern Water’s technology team are applying the bowling ball-like device developed for use in the oil and gas industry in the 13,000 km of pipe line that make up its water network.

The brains of the ball are housed in a small hardened globe which contains acoustic sensors which can ‘hear’ a leak of as little as 0.11 litres/min. Other detectors can spot unevenness in pipes and pockets of air in a pipe. The data is transmitted to surface stations placed along the pipe’s path or downloaded when the ball is recovered. The brains are covered with a bright blue protective sponge layer making SmartBall look like a bowling ball from a distance.

‘We have worked very hard on finding new ways of finding and fixing leaks with a goal of eventually reducing wasted water from our vast network to zero,’ said Sarah Elliman, research and development project manager, ‘Innovation and collaboration go hand in hand at Southern Water – we look for the best technology and the best partners and work together to deliver the best solutions to the challenges we face’.

Read full article and watch a video: Southern Water

Media

Taxonomy

• Technology
• Leakage Detection
• Water Utility
• Leakage
• Infrastructure
• Integrated Infrastructure
• Urban Water Infrastructure
• Utility Management
• green infrastructure