News
– Thanks to the use of high-frequency sensors, this decision-support system predicts which sections of the network are likely to suffer water main bursts caused by pressure transients
– The tool also estimates the reduction in failure risk resulting from the mitigation measures adopted
The TransmitWater project has developed a decision-support system (DSS) that makes it possible to analyse, predict and prevent incidents related to pressure transients — sudden pressure variations that occur routinely and pose a challenge to the operation of water networks, as they can cause pipe fatigue and lead to bursts over time.
Designed for drinking water utilities, the tool is supported by data from high-frequency sensors that record pressure readings up to 128 times per second, together with machine learning and other network-specific input data. This information makes it possible to generate transient-related burst risk maps, identifying which parts of distribution areas require the greatest attention.
Using all this data, the TransmitWater platform identifies, with an accuracy of up to 50%, the sections at greatest risk of failures caused by pressure transients, and estimates the resulting level of risk across the network depending on the implementation of specific mitigation measures.
Throughout the project, the platform has been tested in four different case studies across Spain — Barcelona, L’Eliana and Tavernes (Valencia), and Soutomaior (Pontevedra) — and three types of transient-generating sources have been identified: pressure-regulating valves, pumping equipment and large water consumers. Platform users can simulate a total of nine mitigation measures to reduce incidents associated with these three types of transient-generating sources.
TransmitWater estimates that, with the appropriate mitigation measures, water losses caused by failures associated with pressure-regulating valves can be reduced by up to 25%, losses associated with pumping operations by up to 30%, and those associated with large water consumers by up to 9%.
Franco Crivello, Project Manager at Cetaqua and an expert in applied innovation for distribution networks, explains: “Although the success of mitigation measures depends on several factors, such as hydraulic and environmental conditions and the type of material available, TransmitWater represents a major step forward in the management of pressure transients. For the first time, water utilities have a tool that enables them to obtain an accurate diagnosis of this issue, identify which sections of the network are experiencing the greatest mechanical fatigue and are therefore more likely to suffer incidents in the future, and understand how the measures they consider most appropriate could affect the network.”
The TransmitWater project is a Public–Private Collaboration Project that finalises after three years of work. It is led by Veolia and involves Aigües de Barcelona and Cetaqua–Water Technology Centre.
More information about TransmitWater:
https://www.cetaqua.com/proyectos/transmiwater/
This publication forms part of the Public–Private Collaboration Project TRANSient Management & mITigation solution for WATER utilities (TransmitWater), CPP2022-009697, funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.
