[CWS Seminars 2024] 20/03/2024 Dr Jen Muggleton

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Abstract

According to the World Bank, approximately 90 billion litres of water are lost due to leakage globally each day, representing 30-50% of the world’s pumped water. The developed world is responsible for half this amount, with the UK’s leakage accounting for approximately 3 billion litres per day, ~3% of the global figure. The treatment and pumping of water consumes between 2% and 3% of the world’s energy so the energy wasted because of leakage corresponds to approximately 1% of the total global carbon footprint. Moreover, a recent report by the BBC suggests that London is among 12 major cities at risk, being likely to have supply problems by 2025 and serious shortages by 2040. Comprising water and sewerage undertakers in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, UK Water Industry Research has set up a number of strategic initiatives, one of which is ‘Zero Leakage 2050’. Enhancing acoustic leak detection capability is a core element of the research programme underpinning the initiative. Much of the proposed research is being undertaken at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at Southampton University, with collaborations across the globe. In this talk I give an overview of our current and imminent research projects. Some of these aim to improve existing acoustic leak detection techniques, whilst others aim to support innovative new methods. Together, they form a comprehensive package which has the potential to serve the industry well as we move forward towards the middle of the twenty-first century.

About

Jen Muggleton is a Principal Research Fellow in the Dynamics Group within the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Her main research interests are wave propagation in pipes and in the ground, particularly relating to leak detection and the detection of buried objects. She is currently working closely with UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) on their ‘Zero Leakage 2050’ initiative as well as focusing on the use of optical fibre technology for pipeline leak detection

Host or Publisher Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter