AIDFI donates leak detection equipment to Murcia Water District and E.B. Magalona Water Works

As part of the Holistic NRW Program funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, essential leak detection equipment is being acquired to identify and repair leaks that are either hidden or situated underground.

AIDFI, in collaboration with the water utilities it partners with, has identified the necessity of correlators and ground microphones. These tools will aid in locating and pinpointing underground leakages within the water systems, thereby reducing non-revenue water.

It has acquired a specialized, AI-assisted, high-accuracy acoustic sensor designed for continuous, below-ground leak detection in PVC, PE, and large-diameter transmission pipes. Unlike accelerometers that detect vibrations on pipe walls, this hydrophone is particularly effective on materials where sound travels less efficiently, such as PVC and PE. This sensor directly monitors acoustic signals within the water column to identify leaks. It can cover distances up to 750 meters apart. The sensor utilizes cellular communication (CATM/NB-IoT) to transmit data to a cloud server for automatic analysis and correlation, enabling it to identify leaks with high precision.

Water utilities will also employ an intelligent, portable, and acoustic water leak detector to pinpoint leaks identified by the correlators. This device is designed to locate underground or concealed pressurized water pipe leaks that are up to 3 meters deep.

On the morning of March 24, AIDFI, represented by its President, Engr. Christopher Taclobos, delivered 2 AQS-Sense Hydrophones and 2 sets of water leak detectors to the Murcia Water District. The equipment was received by Murcia Water District General Manager, Engr. Winston Makilan. Also present at the handover were AIDFI personnel led by AIDFI Enterprises CEO, Che Idzenga, along with personnel from the Murcia Water District, headed by the Division Manager of the Engineering and Construction/Production and Water Quality Division, Engr. Paul Oñas.

The handover was followed by the installation of the AQS-Sense Hydrophones in Brgy. Cansilayan to start with the leak detection activities as part of the Holistic NRW Program.

In the afternoon, the team went to E.B. Magalona and handed over 2 AQS-Sense Hydrophones and 2 sets of water leak detectors to E.B. Magalona Water Works. The equipment was received by Hon. Matthew Louis Malacon, the municipal mayor. It was then followed by the installation of the AQS-Sense Hydrophones in Brgy. Tabigue to initiate the leak detection activities.

The AI-assisted equipment will aid in identifying and analyzing data gathered over a designated number of days to detect leaks within the chosen pipeline.

The Holistic NRW Program is set to continue until the end of 2026, culminating in a customized NRW plan designed to aid water utilities in implementing strategies to reduce non-revenue water.