SURVEYING THE SECTOR
In less than 25 years , many water companies are expecting to reach a critical point – where there is no longer enough water to meet demand .
growing tree roots apply additional pressure , causing pipes to shift or crack . Climate change presents additional challenges , with droughts and flash floods expected to become more frequent . In a drought , excessively dry soil can become loose and allow space for pipes and pipe joints to become displaced ; on the flip side , floods can cause an overflow of water where pipes are blocked .
Combining these issues with the UK ’ s slow speed to replace pipe infrastructure highlights the scale of the problem . The Environmental Agency Chief Executive , Sir James Bevan , delivered a speech back in 2019 outlining that , in less than 25 years , many water companies are expecting to reach a critical point – where there is no longer enough water to meet demand .
Efforts must be made now to move away from the current trajectory to ensure the safety and security of our water supply . The question is , how ?
Cutting demand
The scale of the water network means that overhauling the entire system at once isn ’ t feasible . Instead , we must look for ways to reduce the demand . Encouraging consumers to be more mindful about their water use and opt for more economical appliances can help to tackle the problem . But with a fifth of all water treated lost to leakages , it ’ s clear that preventing and fixing leaks should quickly become an area of focus .
Improving pipe insulation can help to shield pipes from sharp temperature changes and prevent them from shifting . But finding tiny cracks in miles and miles of pipework presents a much harder problem to tackle . Damaged pipes and leaks at the surface can be spotted quickly , but hidden leaks underground can go unnoticed for much longer periods , resulting in increased water loss and higher repair costs .
Working in such conditions can be dangerous for operators , and not all pipes are large enough for humans to move through safely . In these situations , the pipe must be exposed through digging for access , which often leads to disruption to pipes under roads and businesses .
The method of detection can also be a problem . Traditionally , opting for acoustic leak detection equipment was the preferred method , which works well in metal-based pipes . However , with modern pipes increasingly being made from plastic , taking the same approach isn ’ t quite as effective , as plastic doesn ’ t transmit sounds the way that metal does . And where pipe networks are comprised of a combination of both these materials , it can be much harder to accurately pinpoint the location of the leak .
Opting for a more preventative approach could allow potential issues to be identified before they become a major leak . But with the majority of networks lying under our roads and businesses , and with miles to cover , how do we go about investigating it ?
Bring in the robots
Advancements in robotic technology are leading to the development of inspection robots built for such applications . Offering engineers the ability to inspect pipes remotely , these robots can help pinpoint the exact location of potential faults , making it easier for repair teams to rectify problems with minimal disruption to users and in a shorter timeframe . Eventually , such robots could lead to the creation of new and improved bots harbouring both inspection and repair functionalities .
Using the power of robotics to automate inspections , faults can be spotted much more quickly , keeping workers safe , keep disruption to a minimum and most importantly , ensuring safe and secure water services for the country .
www . intelligentbuild . tech 41