Pipeline Intelligence Program
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
This program’s strategic focus is to evolve our water, sewer and recycled water networks while enhancing intelligence so our member water corporations can make proactive informed decisions from real-time data. This includes real-time information on our product within the network.
Operationally, this program investigates optimised and innovative technology for water loss and maintenance purposes to drive business efficiencies and enhance customer experience. Find out about our projects below.
Program Manager: Kristina Machena from South East Water.
Deputy Program Manager: Grant Powell from Greater Western Water.
Watch the program update at our recent members conference.
Current projects
Pipe::Scan System
Pipe::Scan is a sensor system for monitoring drinking water quality in pipes under pressure. It measures up to 10 parameters in one device - TOC, DOC, UV254, Turbidity, Color, UVT, Chlorine, pH/ Redox, Conductivity, and Temperature and Pressure.
The system sends water quality data to any central database via almost any protocol. With multiple devices, drinking water can be monitored at any point in the network.
Concrete integrity
We are working in partnership with LaTrobe University and SmartCrete CRC on new technology to assess the concrete integrity of pipes.
The aim is for the technology to monitor sewer concrete pipes, access chambers and pump stations to measure structural integrity and calculate remaining life.
Telstra modular sewer device
This trial involves a modular sewer device that monitors flow, H2S, level and lid movement. The intention is that with this intelligence, water corporations can respond to changes in the network, acting to prevent or mitigate a blockage or spill.
The trial uses Telstra’s NBIoT service to communicate data from the device to the water corporation.
Expert 365
Expert 365 provides AI-ML driven IoT solutions for water quality monitoring. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to detect water quality parameters that are mandatory for routine checks.
It collects and presents data that enables water businesses to make real-time informed decisions about their networks.
Completed projects
The following projects have been completed under our Pipeline Intelligence Program (previously called our Leak Detection, Condition Assessment and Infiltration program). Please email us if you would like more information, including project reports and outcomes.
Aquapea - A trial of this innovative product, capable of repairing leaks from inside the pipe with zero excavations. The trial report is available on our Knowledge Hub (for anyone with a Victorian water industry email account).
Neutral Output Discharge Elimination System (NO-DES) - Five of our member water corporations trialled this system in 2022 (watch a short video about one of the trials). It flushes water mains, treats the wastewater and returns it to the water reticulation network with no water loss.
Pipeline Condition Assessment Technique (p-CAT) - A large-scale pipeline assessment trial using p-CAT technology from Detection Services, after which Western Water adopted the technology as a business-as-usual tool.
Pipe Penetrating Robot (PPR) - A trial aimed at identifying the problem of H2S degradation of concrete sewer pipes, while comparing those results against a new pipe to determine the remaining life.
Satellite Sewer Vegetation - A trial using satellite technology to evaluate the health of sewer vegetation, aiming to identify sewer blockages before they occur.
SewerSerpent - A trial of this geophysical tool, which can be pushed down the length of a sewer pipe to detect leakages.