Leak Detection Case Study by Means of Optimizing Emitter Locations and Flows

This paper presents the case study of leakage hotspot prediction. This has been achieved by the application of a methodology that has been developed to optimize the pressure dependent emitter locations and demand as possible leakage. A case study is included to illustrate how the optimization modeling can be applied to leakage detection. The application can be used to support traditional leakage detection methods as well as model calibration via an integrated method of simulation and optimization modeling. The results obtained are compared to those obtained from a previously developed method that also identified leakage hotspots in the field. The paper demonstrates that the new approach can be used to reducing the uncertainty of finding water leakage hotspots. It shows that the new method can assist water utilities to reduce field based leakage detection as the method can closely predict the location of many leaks thereby improving leakage detection efficiency.