Drinking water leaks: what if we stopped looking blindly?

In the field, operators of drinking water networks know it better than anyone: every liter lost represents a silent alert. A leak is not just water that disappears. It's a constant pressure on teams, and network performance is deteriorating without us knowing exactly where or why. In this context, looking for leaks “by ear” or by going through the kilometers of network blindly is no longer tenable.

‍

1.A constrained drinking water network, and operators on the front line

Guarantee good performance, limit emergency interventions, respect regulatory thresholds... Operators of drinking water networks juggle ambitious goals on aging infrastructures.

In France, up to 20% of the water produced can be lost before reaching the tap. An operational reality that complicates operation and increases operating expenses.

During a masterclass organized by The OIEAU and my water network, the priorities of professionals are clear:

• improve performance,
• pre-locate leaks more effectively.
  
  

Network instrumentation remains the logical first step in isolating critical areas. But without continuous analysis tools, the data collected is rarely exploited to its full potential. Even on networks equipped with sector meters, weak signals go unnoticed, in the absence of real-time cross-analysis.

However, regulations have tightened. Since the Grenelle II law, networks with more than 3,000 inhabitants must achieve a performance of at least 85%. This threshold highlights every cubic meter lost... and reinforces the need forcontinuous, intelligent, and proactive detection.

‍

‍

2. From the “mute” drinking water network to a smart network

Collecting data is no longer enough. What matters is the ability to transform this data into operational decisions.

A network can be equipped with dozens of sector meters and sensors. But if this information is not cross-referenced or analyzed continuously, it does not make it possible to detect weak signals. The result: the leak continues, performance is deteriorating, and the regulatory objective remains out of reach.

It is to avoid this scenario that Purecontrol has developed a leak detection solution, PureNetwork. The ambition: to make drinking water networks go from “passive” to operating proactive and self-monitored.

‍

‍

The solution retrieves and valorizes the data already available: remote meters, supervision systems, map files...

This approach allows:

‍

Fast and reliable location of leaks

Thanks to the automatic calculation of the Linear Loss Index (ILP) by sector, PureNetwork highlights the most critical areas via an intuitive color map. Field teams know immediately where to focus their efforts, without having to go through the entire network.

Via the hypervision platform, the operator monitors in real time the evolution of the overall performance, the trend of distributed volumes and the performance by zone. A second key module also makes it possible to estimate the time remaining before the regulatory objective is exceeded if no corrective action is taken, thus strengthening the prioritization of interventions.

Precise and actionable alerts

a forecasting module based on statistical models anticipates the evolution of the flows distributed. It takes into account normal variations (daily, meteorological or seasonal) to isolate really abnormal drifts. This system makes it possible to qualify alerts and to trigger field research only when justified, avoiding false alerts and unnecessary trips.

The solution automatically sends notifications (SMS or e-mail) in case of overconsumption at night, abnormal variation in flow or decrease in efficiency. These alerts don't just signal a problem: they give the probable location, the risk level, and rely on predictive analytics to distinguish a real anomaly from a simple expected fluctuation.

Implementation without heavy investments

The leak detection solution interfaces with existing infrastructures. It does not require massive equipment replacement, which makes it possible to deploy quickly and start achieving tangible results in a few months.

‍

‍

Leak detection solution for the drinking water network

Based on data and continuous analysis, PureNetwork allows you to:

• Improving the efficiency of the network, not only to reach the 85% threshold set by the Grenelle 2 Law, but above all to Maximize the value of each cubic meter produced.
• Limiting operating costs, by reducing emergency interventions by anticipating the risks of leaks.
  
  
• Strengthen the serenity of the teams : a network that is constantly monitored makes it possible to plan interventions rather than to suffer incidents.
  
  

Repairing a leak quickly costs up to 10 times cheaper than letting it evolve for several months. But beyond the immediate economy, it is the ability to preserve each liter produced that becomes the real added value of the approach.

Moving to a smart drinking water network is not just about adopting new technology. It means changing your posture: no longer waiting for problems to appear, but to anticipate them.