The Power of MLOG Leak Detection - Itron

The Power of MLOG Leak Detection
Connellsville, Pa., Turns to American Water and Itron to Plug the Water
and Financial Drain
Background
Connellsville, located along the steep Youghiogheny River Valley in Southwestern
Pennsylvania, was founded in 1806, and by the late 1800s, became a leading
region of coal extraction. The water distribution system was constructed in1880.
Other infrastructure was built in the region to transport the coal, with trains
connecting to other towns and streetcars for local travel.
With steady growth about a century ago, American Water constructed water pipes
to transport water throughout the city and surrounding municipalities. The cast
iron and galvanized steel pipes worked well for many years. Today, about 40 of
57 miles of main pipes are a century old. As a result, the system’s water pipes are
approaching the end of their useful life. In recent years, many leaks have been
discovered, driving up costs for the city. American Water identified non-revenue
water consisting of blow-off flow and leaks in excess of 25 percent of the average
daily flow.
Opportunity
The Connellsville system is operated by Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary
of American Water, headquartered in New Jersey. American Water contacted several
leak detection firms in hopes of finding a better way to detect leaks than the
conventional leak surveys. The method of sending people out in the middle of
the night to place a listening device at points of access along the water system
was judged as a costly, inefficient process. Leaks do not stop until the next leak
survey—they occur throughout the year. And in Connellsville, leaks can take a
long time to surface.
“We needed to find a solution that was more than a one-time fix. We needed an
instrument that could detect leaks on a regular basis without having to send
people out in the middle of the night,” said David Hughes, senior infrastructure
engineer for American Water.
“If utilities throughout the country
had an unlimited amount of
money, all the aging water pipes
would be replaced more swiftly,”
said Hughes. “The reality is that
utilities must do the best they
can with limited resources.
Acoustic leak detection monitor-
ing lowers the cost to operate a
leaky water system and detects
many leaks before they become
a major problem.”
David Hughes
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
American Water

Solution
Connellsville and American Water turned to Itron. American Water deployed MLOG,
an acoustic leak detecting solution. Itron MLOG is a system of intelligent, wireless
sensors that detects losses from the entire water distribution system every night.
Each low-cost, battery-powered MLOG sensor is permanently installed on a service
pipe near about 10 percent of the water meters throughout the system. MLOG
sensors analyze and save vibration patterns from every location in the water
distribution system, using advanced signal processing to characterize sound patterns
in the pipes over a period of time.
In early 2005, American Water installed 487 MLOG leak detecting sensors in
Connellsville. The utility began receiving daily alerts to the presence of leaks with
the wireless transmission by a fixed network automated meter reading (AMR)
system to PA American’s local Uniontown office.
“We are finding in Connellsville that 50 to 70 percent of main (pipe) bursts start
as small, detectable leaks. If we can make repairs before a leak becomes a major
main burst and avoid water loss, limit repair costs and reduce property damage,
the system quickly pays for itself,” Hughes said.
Benefits
In the first five months of using Itron MLOG, 46 leaks were reported in
Connellsville, up from 12 detected leaks the year before. Hughes said the percentage
of lost non-revenue water dropped to about 11 percent. Financially, that translates
to an annual savings of about $180,000. Most significantly, the water loss level
has been maintained at this low level for a year.
American Water is continuing to monitor pipe failure in several other systems,
using Itron MLOG leak detection systems. For now, Connellsville will maintain a
low water loss level as American Water moves to replace much of the aging pipe
system at a less frenetic pace. Massive pipe replacement in a short period of time
is a costly alternative.
“If utilities throughout the country had an unlimited amount of money, all the
aging water pipes would be replaced more swiftly,” said Hughes. “The reality is
that utilities must do the best they can with limited resources. Acoustic leak detection
monitoring lowers the cost to operate a leaky water system and detects many
leaks before they become a major problem.”
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owners. © 2008, Itron Inc.
Publication 100898CS-01
07/08