Drinking water losses and how to avoid them

Water is one of the most valuable resources on our planet. A safe and efficient drinking water supply is essential for households, industry and agriculture. However, billions of liters of drinking water are lost worldwide every year due to undetected leaks and burst pipes. This poses enormous challenges for water suppliers: In addition to economic losses due to lost water, there is also the threat of environmental pollution and supply bottlenecks.

Modern technologies make it possible to efficiently identify and reduce these losses. In this guide, you will learn about the causes of drinking water losses, how innovative methods contribute to leak detection and which solutions from SebaKMT® can help you to monitor and protect water networks sustainably. With practical examples and clear explanations, you will gain valuable insights into modern technologies for leak detection and network monitoring.

The causes of drinking water losses

Drinking water losses are a global problem and affect both urban and rural supply areas. The causes of water losses are diverse and often difficult to identify. There are both physical and administrative water losses, although this guide focuses on physical losses - i.e. water that escapes from the network due to leaks and burst pipes.

Common causes

Burst pipes and leaks

Water pipes are permanently exposed to various stresses - whether through natural ageing, material fatigue, corrosion or external influences such as subsidence or construction work. Older pipes made of materials that lose stability over the decades are particularly problematic. Corrosion in metal pipes, for example, can lead to a continuous reduction in wall thickness until cracks or fractures eventually occur. Without regular inspections and preventative measures, this often goes unnoticed for a long time, meaning that small leaks increase over time and significant amounts of drinking water are lost. In unfavorable cases, burst pipes can undermine entire streets or building complexes and cause immense damage.

Ageing infrastructure

Many water supply systems were built in the post-war period and have now reached the end of their planned service life. Pipes made of materials such as gray cast iron or asbestos cement are particularly susceptible to cracks and breaks. As most water pipes run underground, their condition is invisible to the eye. Without regular maintenance and modernization, the risk of gradual damage increases, which adds up over the years. Particularly in regions with strong population growth or increasing water demand, outdated networks quickly reach their capacity limits, which further accelerates wear and tear. Timely renewal or refurbishment can help water suppliers to avoid high follow-up costs due to emergency repairs and water losses.

Lack of monitoring systems

In many supply areas, outdated or purely reactive methods are still used - this means that leaks are only discovered when visible damage occurs or customers report water losses. This leads to large quantities of water being lost unnoticed for years. Modern monitoring systems make it possible to continuously analyze the condition of the network and identify problems at an early stage. Smart sensors and cloud-based systems such as POSEYEDON® enable automatic data evaluation in real time so that leaks are detected before they cause major damage. The investment in preventive monitoring pays for itself quickly, as undetected water losses cause high financial and environmental costs.

Print management problems

Water networks depend on the pressure within the pipes being optimally regulated. However, excessive or strongly fluctuating pressure can cause considerable damage to the pipes. Particularly in older networks that were not originally designed for modern high-pressure requirements, excessive water pressure can enlarge existing cracks or cause new leaks. Conversely, too low a pressure means that not all consumers are adequately supplied with water. Intelligent pressure management - for example through the use of pressure sensors and automated control systems - helps to operate the network efficiently and gently. This avoids material fatigue and unnecessary stress, extending the service life of the infrastructure and minimizing the risk of damage.

In order to efficiently reduce the loss of drinking water, suppliers must take appropriate measures at an early stage. Modern technologies enable precise leak detection and long-term monitoring of water networks.

Methods for leak detection in the drinking water sector

In order to successfully minimize water losses, leaks must be precisely localized. Traditional methods are often time-consuming and inaccurate. Modern methods enable fast, cost-efficient and reliable leak detection.

Acoustic leak detection

Acoustic leak detection is a proven method for detecting leaks and uses the principle that escaping water produces characteristic noises.

Correlators analyze noises in the pipe system and use sensors to calculate the exact position of the leak. This method is particularly suitable for long pipe sections.
Floor microphones are used to record leak noises directly above the pipe. This allows leaks to be localized precisely.

Network monitoring with IoT technology

Thanks to advances in sensor technology, water networks can now be continuously monitored. IoT-based systems detect leaks at an early stage and send real-time data to the operators.

SmartEAR® is an example of a modern, intelligent solution for continuous leak monitoring. Wireless transmission via LTE-M / NB-IoT enables reliable data transmission and fast response times.
[Click here for the SmartEAR®]

Tracer gas process & other physical methods

Tracer gas method: This method uses a special gas that escapes at the leak and is detected by sensors. Particularly suitable for areas that are difficult to access.

Prevention: Monitoring and surveillance of drinking water networks

In addition to localized leak detection, continuous monitoring of water networks is crucial. Intelligent monitoring allows problems to be detected and rectified at an early stage before major damage occurs.

Importance of continuous data acquisition

A major problem with drinking water leaks is that a lot of damage is not detected immediately. Leaks often occur over months or years before they become visible or cause major damage. Without targeted monitoring, water suppliers lose large quantities of valuable drinking water every day - a loss that could be avoided.

Smart sensors detect changes in the water network in real time. They measure changes in pressure, noise and water flow rates and immediately detect deviations from normal conditions. This allows patterns to be identified that indicate leaks or weak points in the network. By recording this data immediately, supply companies can act proactively instead of only taking action when major damage has already occurred.

Another advantage is the long-term documentation of grid stability. Using continuously recorded data, signs of wear can be detected before they reach critical proportions. This enables predictive maintenance, allowing repairs to be carried out in a more targeted and cost-efficient manner. Smart monitoring systems therefore not only help to reduce water losses, but also reduce the financial burden on suppliers.

Advantages of cloud-based systems such as POSEYEDON®

Digitalization has also made great strides in the water industry. Modern, cloud-based systems such as POSEYEDON® enable a completely new type of network monitoring. While traditional systems rely on manual checks and local measurements, cloud-based solutions allow all data to be recorded and evaluated centrally in real time.

All the information collected is stored directly in the cloud and can be accessed and analyzed at any time. This gives utilities a complete overview of the status of their network and enables them to detect deviations immediately. Thanks to intelligent algorithms, POSEYEDON® recognizes patterns and trends in the measured values and can point out potential problems at an early stage.

A major advantage of cloud technology is fast and precise decision-making. For example, if a pressure anomaly is detected, immediate action can be taken to prevent major damage. Centralized management also enables better collaboration between different departments and locations, as everyone involved can access the same up-to-date data.

The combination of POSEYEDON® with modern sensor technologies and IoT applications creates an efficient early warning system that helps water suppliers to minimize water losses and ensure a sustainable infrastructure.

[Insert cross-reference to POSEYEDON® here].

Advantages of SebaKMT® technologies

SebaKMT® offers a wide range of solutions for water utilities to effectively minimize water loss. Our technologies are specifically designed to meet the challenges of drinking water supply and make water networks more sustainable. Our customers benefit from more than 70 years of experience in the development and application of innovative solutions for leak detection and network monitoring. For our customers, this long-standing expertise means

In-depth know-how:
- Decades of experience in the development of leak detection technologies give us a unique understanding of the specific challenges in water supply.
- By working closely with water suppliers around the world, we have gained valuable insights that flow directly into our product development.
Proven and reliable technology:
- Our solutions are based on decades of research and have been optimized in numerous real-life applications.
- The trust and many years of cooperation with utility companies worldwide confirm the quality and effectiveness of our technologies.
Efficient leak detection:
- Our high-precision sensors and analysis tools enable leaks to be identified quickly and accurately.
- Acoustic measurement methods, IoT-based solutions and cloud-based analyses help to detect leaks at an early stage and rectify them in a targeted manner.
- Precise leak detection reduces the cost of large-scale excavations and minimizes disruption to the water supply.
Easy integration into existing systems:
- Our modular solutions can be easily integrated into existing infrastructures without the need for costly network conversions.
- Compatibility with existing monitoring systems ensures that water suppliers can modernize their networks step by step.
- Thanks to flexible interfaces, our technologies are future-proof and can keep pace with new developments in the water industry.
Sustainable cost savings:
- Lower water losses mean lower operating costs and more efficient use of resources.
- Early detection of damage reduces costly repairs and the need for emergency measures.
- Targeted maintenance based on real-time data extends the service life of the infrastructure and saves investment costs in the long term.

By using SebaKMT® technologies, water suppliers can increase their efficiency, reduce costs and at the same time make an important contribution to the sustainable use of water.

Success stories & practical examples

Successful leak detection in municipal utilities

Many water suppliers have been able to significantly reduce water losses by using SmartEAR® and POSEYEDON®.
In one city, acoustic sensors identified a leak that had gone undetected for years and was wasting thousands of cubic meters of water every year.

Reduction of non-revenue water through modern technology

Case studies show that IoT monitoring systems can significantly reduce water losses.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

How does acoustic leak detection work?

Floor microphones and correlators detect leaks by means of characteristic noises.

What are the advantages of cloud-based network monitoring?

Systems such as POSEYEDON® offer centralized data collection, automatic alerts and detailed analysis for early detection of problems.

Which technology is suitable for my supply area?

The best solution depends on the network structure and the specific challenges. Our experts will be happy to advise you individually!

Contact & advice

An efficient water supply requires precise measurement and analysis technologies. Let our experts advise you and find the best solution for your network:

Individual consulting: We analyze your network and recommend tailor-made technologies.
Non-binding advice: Contact us for an initial assessment.
Contact form or direct contact person: [Set link to contact form here].