Active Leak Detection Programme

ACTIVE LEAK DETECTION PROGRAMME

Johannesburg Water has an active leak detection programme that was approved as a part of a five year Water Demand Management strategy in August 2016.

The aim of this strategy is to implement various programmes that will ensure our water demand are reduced to within the limits of our allocation from Rand Water in terms of their Water Use License.

Johannesburg Water has 15 teams that do active leak detection on a daily basis in an effort to reduce water demand within the city.

  • These are dedicated teams that survey our water infrastructure on a daily basis picking up leaks that are either visible and not reported or not visible.
  • The process that is followed is that they will inspect the water reticulation for any visible leaks, they will also use acoustic listening sticks (equipment that uses the sound the leak makes) to determine if there might be a leak on the system but not visible.
  • The visible leaks are reported daily through the SAP PM system to the relevant depot who would then dispatch a plumbing team to repair the leak.
  • If they through making use of the listening stick pick up a sound that might be invisible it is further investigated by using ground micro phones and leak noise correlators. These types of equipment allows the operator to pin point the invisible leak more accurately since it is not visible. This will then allow once reported the plumbing team to excavate at the correct location and repair the leak.
  • These leak detection teams cover more than 10,500km of our water infrastructure per annum. This is more that 85% of the infrastructure length.
  • On average per annum these teams report: 1,456 burst pipes, 5,227 leaking meters, 341 leaking valves and 217 leaking hydrants. These leaks are repaired by the network plumbing teams within the specified response times.
  • Annually 8,100 Ml of water is saved due to this programme.

Pipe replacement Programme

Johannesburg Water has implemented a pipe replacement programme over the past five years. By the end of June 2017, 499 km of water pipes have been replaced. Going forward into the next five years, Johannesburg Water plans to replace a further 633 km of water pipes. In replacing these pipes the burst frequencies will reduce and water losses will be minimised.

In the financial year of 2017/18 thus far in:

  • Midrand, we have replaced 3500 meters of pipe
  • Sandton, 15 171 meters of pipe has already been replaced
  • Roodepoort and Diepsloot, we have placed 2281 meters of pipe
  • Deep South Region, 3627 meters of pipe have been replaced

 

Water is a scarce commodity and Johannesburg Water is committed to provide a sustainable water and sanitation supply to all residents of the City. Level 1 water restrictions are still in place and will be enforced by fines to consumers who contravened the Water Services By-law and consumers are urged to report non-compliance by phoning the JMPD 24/7 hotline on 011 758 9650.