The Public Authority for Water (Diam) in Oman has deployed satellite technology among an array of tools to combat leaks in the country’s ever-expanding water transmission, distribution and supply networks, according to Oman Observer.
According to the Authority, leak detection using imagery from satellites helped save an estimated 4.2m cubic metres of potable water across the network in 2019.
The technology, coupled with a plethora of other innovations adopted Diam, helped cut “commercial losses” down to 28m m3 last year, from 40m m3 in 2018, the authority noted in its 2019 annual report.
Diam estimates the natural rate of rising of leakage at approximately four million m3/year, stemming from a number of factors including pressure in the network, age of pipes, and pipe material and quality.
Besides harnessing satellite imagery to tackle leaks in the network, Diam has also rolled out an ‘Active Leakage Detection’ programme – an initiative entailing the proactive pinpointing and repair of leaks. The programme has helped reduce commercial water losses by an estimated five million m3 last year compared to figures for 2018.
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