• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home Pipelines

The double-edged sword of sensor technologies in leakage management

by Utility Journalist
October 24, 2023
in Digital Utilities, Electricity, Pipelines, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sponsored Editorial
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The pursuit of reducing nonrevenue water has rendered sensor technologies irresistibly appealing to utility companies. These innovative devices boast transformative leak detection capabilities but simultaneously introduce a suite of operational and regulatory quandaries requiring thoughtful navigation.

The initial allure of sensor solutions is their ability to monitor leaks across an entire pipeline network. However, this advantage can mislead utilities into underestimating long-term implications. It’s vital to thoroughly examine the financial landscape, as hidden costs often emerge beyond initial purchase and installation.

A key concern with extensive sensorisation is the rise in false positives. In a recent case, a utility relied on new AI sensor technology to identify what seemed to be a water leak. Upon further inspection, it turned out to be electrical interference – correctly identified by older equipment and experienced technicians.

In this instance, actual intelligence trumped artificial intelligence. Such erroneous alerts bloat operational costs and misallocate vital focus and scarce resources away from genuine problematic areas of the network.

Consequently, while low-cost sensor technologies may come across as a budget-friendly venture at first glance, the total cost of ownership can be substantially higher. This includes hidden costs, ranging from the resources squandered on investigating these fallacious alerts to the operational adjustments necessary for integrating new technologies.

The vigilant oversight from regulatory bodies introduces another layer to the operational complexities. When a surge of alerts originates from the newly deployed sensors, these agencies naturally ratchet up their expectations for prompt and effective remediation.

Non-compliance with these recently elevated standards exposes utilities to financial repercussions and can harm public trust and credibility. This amplified scrutiny only complicates the adoption process, underscoring the need for a more strategic approach.

Given these multi-faceted challenges, utilities must proceed with caution and strategic planning when embracing widespread sensorisation. A rushed or fragmented introduction of these technologies is counterproductive at best and disastrous at worst.

Utilities would benefit from crafting a robust, comprehensive strategy for seamlessly integrating these tools into their existing operational frameworks – one that harmonises with internal performance objectives and external regulatory benchmarks.

To conclude, as the water sector boldly strides into an era of sweeping modernisation, it’s paramount to meticulously weigh the prospective technological advantages against the inherent operational and regulatory impediments.

By adopting a balanced, well-rounded approach that accommodates these multiple dimensions, utility companies stand a more substantial chance of attaining long-term, sustainable triumph in reducing non-revenue water.

For more information , visit www.aquaanalytics.com.au

This sponsored editorial is brought to you by Aqua Analytics. For more information, visit www.aquaanalytics.com.au

Related Posts

Image:  kstipek/stock.adobe.com

WA seeks industry feedback on future energy needs

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

The Western Australian Government will engage with peak industry bodies to assess how the state can position its economy to...

The new community battery in Coburg. Image: Jemena

Jemena switches on new community battery

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

Residents in Coburg are set to harness cheaper, cleaner and reliable energy, with Jemena and the Federal Government launching a...

Image: New South Wales Government

NSW Government unveils landmark VPP

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

New South Wales is celebrating the launch of its first large-scale virtual power plant (VPP), aimed at managing the reliable...

Please login to join discussion

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Utility is the title of choice for decision makers at all levels of water and energy utilities, as well as other major players like consulting engineers and first-tier contractors. Utility is integrated across print and online, and explores the biggest news and issues across the utility industry. It is Australia’s only dedicated utility magazine, and covers all areas of the utility sector, including water and sewer, gas, electricity, communications and the NBN.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Utility

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Digital magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Spotlight
  • Civil Construction
  • Renewable Energy

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited