Competition: Innovation in Water Challenge
Amount awarded: £206,385
Led by: Hafren Dyfrdwy
Partners: Costain Ltd, Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water), and Focus Sensors
Project completed: July 2022
Water cycle tag: Water network
The project will investigate the use of unused optical fibre strands (“dark fibre”) within the existing cable networks for leak detection in water and wastewater networks and develop leakage detection as a service business model. The service will provide data not currently available from existing leak detection techniques by monitoring large areas of the network, 24/7. Additionally, they will provide information on ground stability (e.g. the detection of voids developing around a leak) and activity on network assets (e.g. the operation of valves and hydrants).
Fibre leak detection is an emerging technique that has shown great potential for use in the water industry. The proposed technique uses a laser to detect noise at intervals along an optical fibre and has been successfully demonstrated in the rail sector. This project will develop and enhance the technique for transfer into the water industry.
A proof of concept for the use of dark fibre for leak detection will be developed and a novel ‘leakage detection’ as a service business model will be created, enabling water companies to quickly adopt this as the optimum solution as an alternative, or in addition to, traditional leak detection techniques. This will also be applicable globally at locations that have fibre infrastructure near water networks.
The second phase of the project is being supported by further funding from the Water Breakthrough Challenge 3: Catalyst Stream; read more about Dark Fibre 2 here.
For more information on Dark Fibre, take a look at the following resources:
