News
H²0 Building Services reveals the key to effective water management and water leak prevention – On-line Data Logging – AMR
Data logging (AMR) of the main water company meter is key to effective water management, the water flow over time gives invaluable information and can be fitted and monitored for a little as £ 700, the return on the investment is instant and is used for: –
* Accurate identification of unaccounted water losses.
* Water leak detection and repair projects.
* Monitoring of water flow and instant identification of future water leaks to prevent water losses impacting on future water bills.
Referring to the flow logger graph of an actual large site in Kent, the total site cost for water and waste water is £ 250,000, the total site water consumption is 90,000m3 per year.
A first look at the site which employs hundreds of staff, vehicle washing and large water evaporative cooling towers you may believe the water consumption and costs are reasonable, but at this expenditure and taking into consideration the size of the site installing a water flow data logger is a must. The data downloaded will be used in conjunction with a visual on site survey, the water that feeds the cooling towers is sub-metered so this water volume can be discounted. Bench marking volumes against staffing levels, water used in kitchens and vehicle washing is also discounted.
The logging data downloaded clearly shows a base load and night line of 5,519 litres per hour or 5.519m3 per hour, a staggering 48,365m3 per year which is just over 50% of the total water costs for the site.
On further visual inspection there were a number of above ground water losses such as faulty wash down hoses and urinals flushing, however the majority of the water loss is underground water leakage. By providing the client with a visual profile of the water loss and converting the loss into money in this case over £ 140,000 per year combined with a site report fully justifies any capital expenditure required to rectify the situation.
Records show the water losses have been going on over 6 years so an application for a leakage refund will be submitted with an estimated refund of at least £ 600,000.