Yorkshire maintains leak logging at a distance

Yorkshire Water has maintained its leak detection programme during the coronavirus outbreak after partnering with Invenio Systems to install leakage loggers while manual checks at customer homes were paused.

Leakage inspectors faced a backlog of leakage cases because they could not enter households during lockdown therefore leaks went unresolved so the company worked with Invenio Systems, which loaned Yorkshire 50 loggers.

The Stop.Watch loggers monitor subtle changes to water temperature when placed on external stop taps of properties where there is a suspected leak. The logger informs the team if there is a leak inside the property or on the supply pipe.

This assessment can be carried out without going inside a home or property meaning safety of staff and householders can be maintained. Any work resulting from an inspection test will be prioritised for repairs as soon as these are able to begin again.

Innovation technical specialist, Katrina Bakker of Yorkshire said: “We are grateful for Invenio’s generous offer of support. Their Stop.Watch solution will enable us to identify leaks and prioritise remedial work, ensuring that our customers continue to receive the excellent service they expect from us during this challenging time.”

The company was set a 15 per cent leakage reduction target by Ofwat in its PR19 final determination, which it rejected and asked for an appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Earlier this year it announced a programme to test smart metering technology at homes in Sheffield as part of its strategy to reduce leakage.

Yorkshire installed 40,000 acoustic loggers across the region in the summer and invested £50 million in leakage detection, including £4 million to replace customers’ own supply pipes.