Maynilad acquires leak detection device

From mb.com.ph:

By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

July 21, 2011, 3:54pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) said it is set to acquire a device that helps easily detect leaks in a bid to decrease water loss in its concession area.

Known as the JD7 LDS2010 “Investigator’’ it is a close circuit television (CCTV) acoustic leak detection system that allows pressurized pipe inspection of 400 millimeter (mm) and smaller pipes without disrupting water service.

The United Kingdom made device can be launched through fire hydrants, pressure fittings, air valves and gate valves as Maynilad will spend about P5.17 million for the equipment.

Maynilad is the first Asian water company to use the high-tech device.

Aside from making leak detection without service interruption possible, the “Investigator” lessens traffic obstruction by minimizing road excavations necessary to check the pipes.

The device’s camera and hydrophone technology helps detect the actual location of the leak from the surface and marks it for repair while enabling overall pipe condition assessment, help trace illegal connections, unknown pipes, and possible sources of water quality issues.

“We are investing heavily in our Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction program because we want to recover more water for our customers. Thus far, we have recovered over 400 MLD of water, which is enough to supply a city of two million people,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky Vargas.

Among the other state-of-the-art leak detection technologies Maynilad uses in its aggressive campaign against water loss include the Sahara® mobile leak detection system, Aquascan Trunk Main (TM) leak noise correlator and an automatic pressure regulating device (I2O) which would help the company manage the excessive pressures in the pipe system.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres & Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Hi-way), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.