Water Loss

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How can I estimate the amount of water loss as a result of pipe burst or a leakage?

That is from the time when it was reported up to when the supply was reinstated. 

Much appreciated.

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13 Answers

  1. Mohammed, you are essentially correct, assuming that there are no significant temperature differences between the section inflow and outflow measurement points.  However, calibration and repeatability of the metering systems plays an important role, since meters calibrated with, say, +/- 1% calibration at different times can still have leaks up to 2% that are not detected. 

    Unfortunately water main leaks due to corrosion and/or joint problems are fairly common, and frequently persist for years -- sometimes decades -- before they are noticed at the surface.  In arid areas such as we both live in, this constitutes a very significant water supply and distribution system maintenance problem.

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  5. In reality, it is extremely likely that the location has been seeping/leaking for years -- which is typical for the progression of a pinhole  corrosion pit leak to full catastrophic blow out that becomes surface visible.  Per a recent AWWA study, in the USA the average water distribution system leak is about ~20%.

    (While the energy pipeline industry is certainly not laudable for its leaks, were it to leak at such high levels as the water industry it would be shut down as a serious environmental hazard.)

    Early low level detection, determination of leakage rate / prioritization, and repair is the most efficient means of distribution system maintenance -- and the cheapest and most available source of "new water".  

    As mentioned by in another responder to your question, distribution systems are usually supplied in sections.  Lowering water main measurement uncertainties and large data set analysis will be necessary for long term distribution system maintenance and efficiency.

    See attached papers on pipeline leak detection and the first section of a proposal addressing the specific water distribution system problem.

  6. Hi Caroline,

    In the UK we divide networks into metered zones so we know the normal flows into and out of a zone and therefore the normal demand in a zone. When a burst occurs the demand rises above average and this provides an assessment of the amount lost.

    I don't know where you are; so it is not possible to know if your networks are metered in the same way.

    Regards,

    Dave

     

  7. If it is possible to collect in bucket  then fill the bucket and divide its volume by time taken to fill it which will let you know the water lost in terms of volume per unit of time.Multiply this value by total time the leakage existed which will give you almost exact value of water lost.

    If it is not possible to collect directly then either divert water through channel to some pit the volume of which was predetermined  then follow the above said method to determine loss again otherwise if online flow meter is working then it would be easy to determine by subtracting flow values after & before leakage which would give you total losses & when you multiply flow rate by total duration of loss.

  8.  Caroline, in essence the water loss will depend on certain factors, like the water pressure in the pipe and the size of the leak as two key variables. I attach a table indicating this that I have found useful.

     

    Any further assistance on leak mitigation and water savings, feel free to ask,

    Regards

    Gary

  9. In Latvia capital Riga water works in such cases we use online calculator from this site:

    https://moruralwater.org/water-tools/

    We use these calculations only in cases, if other company breaks by accident our pipe and we ask compensation for leaked water. We use this calculator together with calculated pressure from our city water supply hydraulic model, done with Bentley WaterGEMS

  10. @Caroline, before fixing the pipe, a 10L or 20L bucket should be use to collect water from the broken pipe and the the time it takes to fill the bucket recorded. Then calculate the time from when it was reported to when it was reinstated and divide by the time it takes to fill the container to know how many of such container will be filled during the breakage. 

  11. If you have a small pressure zone or DMA and a significant leak when compared with the consumption, you can check the consumption in the zone, then you can check the minimum nighttime flow (MNF). Subtract the MNF from the day before the leak was repaired to the day after it as repaired . That can give you an estimate of leak size.

    If that isn't feasible, ask one of the experienced operators who was on site, how much the leak was. They can give you a rough estimate. At least they can tell you if it was on teh order of 5 gpm, 50 gpm or 500 gpm.

    I've attached a chart that was developed for sewer overflow that can help estimating flows.

    Theoretically, you can use an estimate of orifice size and pressure but that is even less accurate than what I've mentioned above.

    If you want the total volume, you need to estimate the start time and time of shutdown.

    If you get the impression that there is a lot of estimating involved, you're correct.

    Answered on by

  12. Water loss, in reticulation, needs instruments like flow meters and level meters  for measure of mass flow and totalization. 

    With that information water balance in reticulation is possible, with high degree of accuracy.

    at www.mansae.co.za we are able to recommend suitable instruments, perform installation and de develop water balancing system that is comprehensive and easy to detect and alert maintenance about water loss