Advancements in Pipeline Pressure and Leakage Prevention: Elevating Energy Efficiency in Water Utilities

ellenex team
Jan 20
8 min read

Updated: Apr 25

Due to physical Pipe leaks and bursts, 32 billion Cubic Meter of treated water are lost every year!

The energy efficiency of water utilities are significantly related to the water distribution and pipeline leakage preventions

Wasting While the Water Scarcity is Rising?

Water is and always will be an irreplaceable resource, essential to all life and economic growth. Over 2 billion people live in countries where the water supply is inadequate, rising with an expectation that half of the world's population potentially living in areas facing water scarcity by 2025. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050. Extreme and prolonged droughts are also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for plant and animal species.

Consequentially, the efficiency of water resources is paramount for the global sustainability, particularly in light of escalating water scarcity concerns worldwide. Yet, one of the most critical challenges facing water utilities is curbing pipeline leaks and optimizing pressure levels across distribution networks. This is not only essential for conserving precious water resources but also for maximizing energy efficiency in water delivery systems.

The losses of water leakage amounts to majority of the Non-Revenue-Water (NRW), marking the challenge of energy efficiency

Additionally, water utilities face multifaceted challenges, including water loss due to leaks, energy inefficiencies resulting from high-pressure levels, and the deterioration of aging infrastructure. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the United States loses an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water per day due to leaks in its aging water infrastructure. On a global scale, it is estimated over 32 billion cubic meters of treated water are lost per annum, marking the pediments of energy efficiency of water distribution in the presence of pipeline burst and leakage.

Impediment of Energy efficiency in Water Industry

Non-revenue water (NRW): Industrial representation of water losses before reaching consumers, is influenced by factors such as network quality, maintenance, and leakage control strategies.

While the worldwide average NRW rate stands at 35%, in several low-income nations, this water loss could amount to as much as 60% of the water supplied!
These High NRW rates stem from real losses (actual leaks in the distribution network) and commercial losses (Un-billed water consumption).
Causes of Dramatic inefficiency includes poor management, insufficient support from service providers, inadequate device maintenance, pipe selection issues, and water theft.

With successful cases like Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), it is without a doubt that systematically replacing damaged pipes could yield significant improvement in water loss reductions (i.e., nearly 30% in the water distribution network of Thailand). Through a proactive and extensive replacement effort, it's possible to decrease NRW rates to below 10%.

But How We Can Enhance Energy Efficiency in Water Utilities By Knowing and Consistently Replace the Area of Leaking Pipelines?

The maintenance of water pipeline is highly achievable but it is hard to do so without knowing which area of pipeline to replace, especially with pressure monitoring in the remote regions

A primary challenge for water utilities, especially in the USA with aging water infrastructures in some areas, is determining how to enhance energy efficiency by identifying and consistently replacing sections of leaking pipelines. Historically, maintenance teams struggled to systematically examine remote or vast environments; however, advancements in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies now enable real-time leak detection and data-driven infrastructure management.

High-Performance Sensing: The PTS2 and PTS3 Series

The foundation of modern leakage prevention lies in specialized sensors engineered for industrial longevity and precision. These devices operate for over 10 years on a single replaceable lithium battery, drastically reducing maintenance overhead.

PTS2 Series (Low Power Pressure Transmitter): Designed for both liquid and gas media, the PTS2 features high accuracy (±0.25%Span) and a resolution of ±0.01%. Housed in IP65 or IP67 enclosures, it is ideal for standard surface applications, pump performance monitoring, and pressurized line diagnostics.
PTS3 Series (IP68 Submersible Pressure Transmitter): Engineered for the harshest environments, the PTS3 is IP68-rated, enabling continuous immersion in underground pits, wells, or high-moisture settings. It supports pressure ranges up to 1000 bar, ensuring visibility across both distribution and high-pressure transmission mains.

Specialized Solution Frameworks

Utilities can transition from reactive "find and fix" models to proactive stewardship by integrating these sensors into comprehensive solution frameworks:

Smart Leak Detection Systems: Through the Water Pipeline Pressure and Leakage Monitoring solution, utilities move beyond periodic inspections to a data-driven approach. By analyzing near real-time data from IoT sensors, operators can pinpoint the exact location of leaks and take swift action to prevent catastrophic water loss and infrastructure damage.
Pressure Management: By utilizing transmitters like the PTS2 and PTS3 series, utilities achieve precise control of pressure levels throughout the distribution network. Optimizing pressure settings based on near real-time data allows utilities to reduce leaks, minimize energy consumption in pumping stations, and extend the lifespan of aging infrastructure.
Remote Monitoring with reliable connectivity: The Underground Water Pipeline Pressure Monitoring solution leverages LPWAN technologies like LoRaWAN for their superior penetration capabilities, enabling reliable communication from buried assets where traditional signals fail. This ensures continuous visibility into network stability in remote or hard-to-reach areas without the need for extensive cabling or frequent maintenance.

Which Communication technology suits best for remote monitoring?

The selection of a connectivity protocol is critical for long-term operational efficiency. Both technologies offer low power consumption and long-range capabilities, but they excel in different environments:

Feature	LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network)	NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT)
Primary Strength	Long Range & Battery Longevity: Optimized for ultra-low power; can exceed 15 years of battery life.	Deep Penetration & Reliability: Superior signal penetration through soil, concrete, and deep underground.
Network Type	Unlicensed spectrum; supports private networks for full utility ownership and zero monthly fees.	Licensed cellular spectrum; leverages existing 4G/5G carrier towers for "plug-and-play" urban deployment.
Range/Coverage	Exceptional in rural areas (15km+); requires private gateways in areas without public coverage.	Strongest in urban and semi-urban areas with existing LTE infrastructure.
Verdict: Which is good?	Best for remote rural areas, vast irrigation networks, or sites where you want to own the network without cellular subscriptions.	Best for urban environments and underground infrastructure (pits/basements) where deep signal penetration and carrier-grade reliability are essential.

Suiting to your remote monitoring challenge in remote areas, LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) connectivity technologies like LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) hold significant potential for remote water pipeline pressure monitoring due to their ability to provide long-range communication with efficient energy consumptions.

Low Power Consumption: IoT sensors, especially those designed for leakage detection, are optimized for low power usage. This is crucial for applications where the sensor needs to operate for extended periods without requiring frequent battery replacements or recharging.
Long Range: LoRaWAN technology enables sensors to communicate over long distances, which is beneficial for detecting leaks in large water distribution networks. This allows for the deployment of sensors in remote or hard-to-reach areas without the need for extensive cabling or infrastructure.

Too much hustle to set up? Onboarding simplicity with Ellenex

At Ellenex, we believe that sensors and measurement systems are the most important parts of any process system and production line. Backed by more than 25 years of experience in this area and recent developments in IoT (Internet of Things) networks, we designed and manufacture one of the widest ranges of end-to-end industrial LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) for mass IoT applications. Our new range of products opens up new opportunities for industries to implement the industrial internet of things (IIoT) in their production plants and service system easily with the lowest cost and minimum integration

With Decades of design, manufacturing and servicing IoT sensors and measurement system, we offers professional yet simplified industrial LPWAN solutions! Among our 60+ of end-to-end monitoring advancements, Ellenex provides such LoRaWAN-based solution for remote water pipeline pressure monitoring, serving water utilities across the globe.

With an historical transformation for water management, we offer unprecedented insights and capabilities to address the challenges of pipeline pressure and leakage prevention. By embracing IoT sensor technology, utilities can reduce water loss, minimize energy consumption, and ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources with enhanced energy efficiency in water utilities.

Plug and Use: we offers consistent pre-configuration services for our water industrial clients to minimize the hazards of setting up complex IoT hardwares and software connectivities.
Conditional Sampling: Where a threshold can be defined on the device and the device will alert you when the pressure is out of the expected range indicating a blockage or a leak.
Data Analytics and Predictive Maintenance: Complementing with our highly integratable software platform, Ellenex IoT sensors enable water utilities to analyze data and implement predictive maintenance strategies.
Utilization of Advanced Materials with battery efficiency management: Our IoT sensors are designed to work in harsh environments and with minimum energy consumptions of its battery, providing over 10 years of accurate remote measurements.

Ellenex provide the leadign solutions in energy savings for water utility clients, including the offering of water pipeline leakage preventions

Key Strategic Pillars:

Adopt Proactive Monitoring: Transition to continuous observation using acoustic and pressure sensors.
Implement Integrated Pressure Management: Use real-time feedback to maintain minimum required pressure.
Leverage the Right Connectivity: Deploy NB-IoT for challenging underground urban assets and LoRaWAN for remote, autonomous network needs.
Utilize Pre-Configured Solutions: Partner with providers like Ellenex that offer "Plug and Use" hardware to accelerate ROI and reduce technical complexity.

By embracing these advancements, water utilities can transform into efficient, resilient guardians of the world’s most vital resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Non-Revenue Water (NRW)?
NRW is treated water that enters the distribution system but is lost or unaccounted for before it reaches the consumer. It is comprised of physical losses (leaks, bursts, storage overflows) and commercial losses (meter inaccuracies, theft, or unbilled usage).
How much water is lost globally to leaks and bursts?
It is estimated that 32 billion cubic meters of treated water are lost annually due to physical pipe leaks and bursts . Total NRW losses reach approximately 126 billion cubic meters per year.
What is the environmental impact of water loss in terms of carbon emissions? Water distribution is energy-intensive. Globally, physical water losses account for an estimated 12.8 million metric tons of CO2 annually. On a building level, a single leaky toilet can waste over 1 million gallons and generate 46 tons of carbon emissions per year—as much as a typical passenger car .
How do smart water management systems improve energy efficiency?
Smart systems use IoT sensors and automated algorithms to optimize pump operations and maintain minimum required pressure levels. Real-time pressure management can reduce energy consumption in pumping by up to 28.4% by reducing the volume of water forced through leaks and lowering required pumping heads .
What are the key differences between LoRaWAN and NB-IoT for water utilities?
LoRaWAN uses unlicensed spectrum and is ideal for building private, low-cost networks with ultra-long battery life in remote areas . NB-IoT uses licensed cellular spectrum, offering superior signal penetration through soil and concrete, making it optimal for urban environments and deep underground assets .
Which connectivity technology is better for underground monitoring?
NB-IoT is generally preferred for underground infrastructure, such as basement meters or buried pipe pits, due to its enhanced signal penetration capabilities and carrier-grade reliability .
What is the economic cost of water loss in the United States?
The U.S. drinking water system leaks approximately 2 trillion gallons of purified water annually, costing municipalities an estimated $8 billion each year .
What is "Continental Drying" and how does it affect water availability?
Continental drying refers to the long-term decline in freshwater availability across large landmasses. The world currently loses 324 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually to this phenomenon, enough to meet the needs of 280 million people .
How accurate are modern smart leak detection systems?
Modern automated systems can reach leak confirmation accuracy as high as 92%, compared to approximately 70% for traditional methods. Advanced sensors can pinpoint leak locations within one meter .
What is the role of pressure management in reducing network leakage?
Maintaining the minimum required pressure reduces the volume of water lost through existing leaks and minimizes the mechanical stress that causes new pipe bursts . Even small pressure reductions can yield significant water savings in flexible pipe networks .
Why is cybersecurity critical for smart water networks?
As water infrastructure becomes digitized, it becomes vulnerable to cyberattacks that could disrupt service. Effective systems must implement network segmentation, data encryption, and continuous monitoring for anomalous activity.
Can these systems be used in remote areas without cellular coverage?
Yes. LoRaWAN technology allows utilities to build their own private networks using gateways in remote locations . Alternatively, low-power satellite IoT can be used for assets in regions where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
What are the specific capabilities of the Ellenex PTS2 and PTS3 sensors? The PTS2 is a standard industrial pressure transmitter (±0.25% accuracy) suitable for surface-level monitoring. The PTS3 is an IP68-rated version designed for continuous submersion in underground wells or harsh high-moisture environments .
What is a District Metered Area (DMA)?
A DMA is a defined zone of a water distribution network isolated by boundary valves and monitored by flow and pressure meters at entry and exit points to identify leakage through flow analysis .