ABB helps shape success of Global Water Leakage Summit
ABB takes lead role in helping to build awareness of solutions to global water leakage issues
The role of new technology in tackling water leakage was one of the key topics explored at the recent Global Water Leakage Summit event sponsored by ABB. Held in London, the two-day event brought together 180 representatives from water operators, decision-makers and influencers around the world to discuss new developments and strategies for monitoring and tackling water leakage.
As a key supporter of the event since its creation in 2001, ABB joined other organisations in explaining and exploring new ways to find and fix leaks more quickly. A key aim of the event was to encourage the exchange of best practice examples between representatives to try to identify a common approach to tackling water leakage.
The first day of the event focused on leakage strategies. Discussions during the day long sessions included lessons learned by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water following the 2010/2011 cold winter, both in terms of dealing with frequent bursts and water shortages and dealing with the media. This was followed up with a presentation by Canada’s Halifax Regional Water Commission, sharing the company’s own experiences of dealing with such conditions.
This contrasting approach was continued on the Regulator Panel, which compared the challenges and driving factors facing water utilities in the UK with those of utilities operating in Abu Dhabi and Portugal.
The session was particularly useful for countries that are relatively new to leakage management, enabling them to learn from the experiences of those which already have an Active Leakage Management strategy in place. Topics covered included how to calculate economic levels of leakage (ELL), dealing with drought and leakage in water scarce regions, tips for success when implementing a strategy and the challenges facing developing countries.
This first day was topped off with the first Global Water Leakage Evening Gala Dinner, the idea of ABB’s Global Product Marketing Manager, Tim Door. As well as providing an excellent forum for informal networking, the Gala Dinner also helped to raise £2,105 for the Water Aid charity, with various prizes being auctioned off, including an engraved iPad donated by ABB.
The second day saw a shift in theme towards technology, covering three main areas, namely smart network management, pipeline inspection and monitoring and leakage management. All three sessions explained how new technology is being used not only to help identify existing leaks but also to help spot potential leaks before they even occur.
The whole event was closed with a wrap-up technology panel discussion session chaired by Tim Door. During this session, various companies explained how their technologies could be used to help shape the future of leakage detection and management, with Tony Hoyle, ABB’s General Sales Manager for UK and Ireland, presenting ABB’s own AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic flowmeter, together with case study application examples explaining how the product has been deployed.
Now available in wind and solar powered options, the AquaMaster 3 provides a true install-anywhere pressure and flow measurement, logging and remote transmission unit that can measure accurately even at the lowest flow rates, making it ideal for leakage management applications.
“As the lead sponsor for the event, we’re delighted with the success of the Global Water Leakage Summit,” says Tim Door, Global Product Marketing Manager for ABB. “The in-depth sessions certainly gave everyone a lot of food for thought about how to reduce leakage by both monitoring leakage more effectively and using the latest technology. The next step now is for the delegates to go forward and find ways to put their new knowledge into practice to help ensure that the world’s increasingly scarce water resources are managed in the best way possible.”
Source: ABB
