Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has adopted the smart ball leak detection to detect invisible water leakages in water transmission pipelines that are hard to detect or reach. This is part of DEWA’s ongoing efforts to reduce water losses.
The smart ball system consists of a small diameter sphere that is inserted into the water network where it travels freely, driven by the water flow. Sounds generated by a leak, gas pocket or anomalies have distinctive characteristics. The system captures the sounds of these from inside the pipeline with the software then able to detect the location of the leak. DEWA further revealed that the technology has saved 68.45 million gallons and AED2.74 million since its implementation in April 2021.
DEWA has been adopting the latest technologies in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and water networks. According to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA, the agency has been able to reduce electricity losses to 3.3% compared to 6-7% in Europe and the US in 2020, and reduce water network losses to 5.1% compared to 15% in North America. DEWA’s total installed capacity is 13,417MW of electricity and 490 MIGD of water.
He said: “In Dubai, we have a comprehensive vision to ensure the sustainability of resources as part of the integrated strategy of managing water resources in the country which focuses on enhancing water resources, conserving consumption and using the latest technologies as well as innovative solutions. This includes operational technology. In 2014, DEWA commissioned the SCADA system at its sustainable building in Al Quoz, enabling DEWA to monitor the water transmission network in Dubai remotely, collect data round the clock in addition to water transmission pipelines, pumping stations and storage that extend over 2,300km with over 8,500 smart devices in the field.”
