Evaluation of the Factors Impacting the Water Pipe Leak Detection Ability of GPR, Infrared Cameras, and Spectrometers under Controlled Conditions

Huda Aslam,Manreet Kaur,Tarig Ali,Sherif Yehia,Md Maruf Mortula

doi:10.3390/app12031683

Abstract

Leakages from water distribution infrastructures are responsible for a considerable amount of water losses. Consequently, innovative, non-destructive techniques (NDT) of leakage detection for early recognition is vital. In this study, the leak detection abilities of Ground Penetration Radar (GPR), spectrometers, and infrared (IR) cameras were investigated, and the factors affecting the leak detection response were assessed. Three experimental setups were constructed to simulate underground pipes in dune sand. Three different pipe materials (PVC, PPR, and PE) were investigated under three levels of moisture content (MC; 2%, 5%, and 10%) and three types of leaks (hole, crack, and faulty joint). The IR camera was the most effective among the different NDTs used in this study. The IR camera detected all types of leaks at 2% and 5% MC but was inconclusive at 10% MC. Similarly, the GPR detected the leaks at 2% and 5% MC successfully but was inconclusive at 10% MC. Lastly, the spectrometer was the least reliable NDT to detect leaks. Results suggest that IR cameras and spectrometers that operate in the mid-IR range (5–25 µm) can detect leaks.

Highlights

Water plays a vital role in our lives and is used for domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and recreational purposes
Studies suggest that leaks in Water Distribution Infrastructure (WDI) can cause water losses of up to 30% [1,2]
Water pipe leakage leads to wastage of a precious resource but it causes significant financial losses as a large amount of treated water is lost through leaks

Summary

Introduction

Water plays a vital role in our lives and is used for domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and recreational purposes. Studies suggest that leaks in Water Distribution Infrastructure (WDI) can cause water losses of up to 30% [1,2]. Water pipe leakage leads to wastage of a precious resource but it causes significant financial losses as a large amount of treated water is lost through leaks. Clean drinking water and environmental degradation fighting are two worldwide challenges addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals [6]. To deal with these two challenges implies reducing water leakage as it causes wasting of drinking water and risks the water quality. It is imperative to develop an efficient approach for the detection of leaks in water distribution infrastructure to reduce the negative effects associated with water pipe leaks

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Conclusion