Efficient Leak Detection in PE Water Pipes for NSVA

Fluves deployed its DALI pipeline monitoring system for NSVA in Sweden to detect leaks and intrusions in PE drinking water distribution pipes using advanced Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology.

• Challenge: NSVA needed to detect leaks and intrusions in PE drinking water distribution pipes in Sweden without disrupting service.
• Solution: Fluves used the DALI mobile system, inserting a fiber optic cable through fire hydrants to perform real-time leak detection and complete the installation in one day.
• Results: The system quickly identified multiple leaks within ten minutes, proving effective in various pipe materials and ensuring continuous operation of the water distribution system.
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Challenge

NSVA needed a solution to detect leaks and intrusions in PE drinking water distribution pipes in Sweden without taking the pipes out of service and with the ability to work across various pipe materials.

Solution

Fluves implemented the DALI mobile system by inserting a fiber optic sensing cable through fire hydrants, allowing real-time leak detection without disrupting service. The system, effective on any pipe material including plastic, identified several test leaks within ten minutes. The entire process, from installation to retraction of the cable, was completed in one day.

Results

The DALI system successfully pinpointed multiple leaks, proving its effectiveness in detecting issues in distribution pipes where traditional methods might fall short, while maintaining continuous pipeline operation.