Noise registers will help you find the place of a water supply accident
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Now the water distribution system is losing about 30% of clean water due to small breakages, which are easily eliminated, but since the pipes run more often underground, the exact location of the accident is difficult to determine. In the research center of the University of Concordia (Canada), specialists decided to correct the situation and developed a new method that will help to solve the problem of underground clean water leaks quickly and effectively - the new device allows to detect water leakage under the ground with an accuracy of 99.5%.
Most people do not think about the way the water overcomes, before the tap is opened and used to count clean drinking water as an endless natural resource. But the problem of water leakage becomes more acute, and every year the situation only gets worse. Specialists noted that if already now no measures are taken, then in 10 years 1/3 of the population of the earth will remain without clean water.
Canadian researchers have decided to improve the current systems for detecting leaks, through the fault of which now up to 30% of clean water is lost (old water systems lost up to 50%).
To stop the leak and save clean water, you need to know exactly the location of the leak. The work of the excavator, subsequent restoration of the surface above the leakage site is quite expensive, and if the accident site is mistakenly established, the cost of repair will be 2 times more.
Researchers from Concordia suggested using a noise register over the entire water main to record noise and accurately locate the possible leakage. Special units with magnets are attached to inspection hatches, fire columns or valves, at a certain time the device turns on and records the indicators for 2 hours. Researchers noted that the optimal time of the device is nighttime, when background noise is minimal.
Small blocks (12x5 cm) record noise, and in case it turns out to be consistent, a leak is possible at this point. The technicians using these devices will be able to calculate the accident site with high accuracy using predictive mathematical modeling.
According to Tarek Zaid, co-author of the new research project, a new method for identifying accidents on the water supply network will reduce the time and costs of locating the leak.
The team of scientists has already tested its invention in the state of Qatar (the country in the Middle East), where the minimum level of precipitation and the maximum rate of evaporation. According to some reports, in this country the water distribution system loses up to 35% of clean water due to various breakages on the line.
Canadian specialists placed noise registers on the main water supply network of one of the Qatar universities, and processed the data with the help of mathematical modeling, as a result, it was possible to determine emergency locations with an accuracy of up to 99.5%. Also, researchers plan to test the registers in other places and achieve 100% accuracy of the devices.
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