Wellington Water to install 11 flowmeters to cut back on water loss

To help find out where water is being lost from the Wellington City Council’s water supply network in New Zealand, Wellington Water is installing 11 bulk water flowmeters.

“We know that there is drinking water loss in the central business district (CBD) but it’s really hard to quantify and to locate. Leak detection is tricky at the best of times but in the CBD where you have thick layers of concrete and constraints around working hours it’s even more so,” Keith Woolley, Wellington Water chief advisor potable water, said.

“We need to locate the losses, how much we’re losing and then set about fixing any leaks. To help with that, we’re planning to install 11 bulk water flowmeters on council pipes in the CBD over the next couple of years. These will help give us the information we need to reduce losses further.”

The flowmeters will also help identify problems such as low flow or valves that are closed or partially closed, and provide information to help with network planning for future growth.

Woolley said the first flowmeter will be installed this month, with meters for other areas are planned to be in place by the end of June.

Work includes digging through roads to install a rectangular concrete chamber and associated pipes below ground, as well as the installation of a small electrical cabinet in the footpath.

This work is being carried out by Wellington Water on behalf of the Wellington City Council.