Fibre Optic Pipeline Leakage Detection

The invention is a leakage detection system for water pipelines installed in partially saturated soils. Most soils in South Africa and the rest of Africa are partially saturated because the water table is usually deep. Given the large amount of water lost from water distribution systems worldwide from leaks,  this invention has the potential to address the challenge faced by water utilities, municipalities, and industry worldwide, where pipes are laid in unsaturated soil. It is estimated that 36% of potable water in  South Africa is lost,  with a large percentage attributable to leaks from the distribution system.  Taking the approximate potable water supply by Rand Water of 4000 megalitres per day and assuming 15% water loss at R10 per cubic meter, the cost of this water loss amounts to R6 million in a single day.

The system comprises a conventional telecommunications-grade fibre-optic cable placed in the pipe trench near the pipe when a new pipe is installed. The possibility also exists to retrofit the system to an existing pipeline by trenching from above to near the pipe and then installing the fibre-optic cable and backfilling the trench.