Murdoch University
Key achievements
- Located a hidden leak 2 meters underground
- Undertook a comprehensive leak detection and repair program
Murdoch University, recently made a major discovery: a water leak wasting a significant amount of water 2 meters below the surface. This discovery has prompted the university to take action to promote waterwise practices and implement smart metering equipment to monitor water use and prevent future leaks.
The water leak was found on campus and estimated to be losing approximately 213,000 litres of water per day. If left in the current state, it would equate to filling 30 Olympic size swimming pools each year, which is a significant amount of wasted water. Through the use of data loggers, the leak was detected by the university's Facilities Management team, who immediately began investigating the cause and the best course of action to rectify the situation.
Data logger software showing irregular water use.
A very leaky situation
The Murdoch University Campus has an extensive ring main network, and some of the pipework is up to 4 meters deep. So finding the exact location of the leak wasn’t going to be easy. We reached out to a leak detection specialist to provide a custom monitoring solution to assist with the location of the leak.
How we did it
Murdoch, in conjunction with the leak detection specialist initiated a step-by-step approach, which included installing smart monitoring equipment to record water flow and pressure around the campus. This allowed measurements of flow rates, water consumption and pressure fluctuations in real time to assist narrowing down the location of the leak.
Isolating each section was risky. To minimise campus disruptions backup water supply was needed for critical areas such as the Research Facilities and the Veterinary Hospital.
Specialist plumbers carried out a series of isolation tests across sections of pipe work, downstream from the main water meter utilising flow rate software.
This map shows an overlay of the isolated areas on campus. Once an area was isolated, a series of tests on the pipe work was conducted and recorded to ensure water pressure maintained for periods of 2 hours or more. This allowed us to verify soundness while working in the field.
Monitoring software showing the flow of water in the isolated pipe work.
The leak was found in a 180mm concrete mild steel pipe 2 meters below a tree. Due to its poor condition, large sections of this pipework were replaced, eliminating the cause of the leak.
The leaking pipe was located 2 metres below a large tree.
What we’re doing now
The implementation of smart metering equipment and the promotion of waterwise practices is part of Murdoch University's commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. Water is a precious resource in Western Australia, and the university is taking proactive steps to ensure that it uses water wisely and efficiently.
To learn more about how businesses are effectively managing water consumption and lowering costs, visit our waterwise page.