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Poor workmanship causes £ 51,246 water leak.

Author: Graham Mann, Water Audit Expert.

Poor workmanship caused a very expensive water leak at Chaigeley School, H²O Building Services were asked to investigate the reason for high water bills, one years worth of bills were audited and at the existing rate of increase it would cost the school over £51,000 by year end.

Water leakage engineers were dispatched to the school and they located the water meter in order to record the flow rate which was 2.5 cubic metres per hour which equated to 19,710 cubic metres per year, imagine 657 petrol tankers with a capacity of 30 cubic metres per tanker, this gives you a visual aspect to the problem.

The water leakage engineers set about investigating the location of the leak using leak noise correlation equipment, the leak was located on a disused section of old lead pipe (see picture 1 below).

Picture 1.

It is difficult to believe such a seemingly small water leak can have such a significant impact on a water bill, the water leak was repaired using plastic mechanical fittings (picture 2)

Picture 2 Temporary repair.

Saving £ 51,246 per year with a payback on the repair of 1 week.