EUSLDC2/5 Identify the location of water loss

Overview

This Standard is about using identifying the location of water loss. This standard can be used in relation to leakage, drought, peaks in demand, new user demand or any other types of unaccounted for water loss. 

It includes tracing the location of water pipes, surface fittings and street furniture, selecting suitable single or combinations of water loss detection methods, setting up and configuring water loss detection equipment and using the results to identify water loss location. You will need to be able to prioritise the urgency of water loss situations, record information and make sure the relevant people, including customers, are provided with updates.  Health, safety and hygiene procedures should be followed at all times.

This Standard is for anyone who identifies the location of water loss on the distribution network.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. comply with health and safety legislation, environmental considerations and hygiene processes whilst minimising effects on water supply, water quality and customers
  2. obtain and analyse information from existing records and data about the location of water pipes, potential water loss and anything that may impact on safety in line with organisational procedures
  3. collate information from records, visual inspection and tracing and detection techniques to form an accurate prediction of the position of water pipes, water loss, surface fittings and any street furniture
  4. identify the combination of tracing and detection techniques, methods and equipment for the condition and type of distribution infrastructure to produce the most effective water loss detection activity
  5. trace and mark positions of water pipes, water loss, surface fittings and street furniture on work sites in accordance with organisational procedures
  6. establish contingency plans in line with organisational procedures for situations where potential problems might occur
  7. confirm notification procedures are put in place in accordance with organisational procedures
  8. make sure those affected by testing are informed of the time and duration of tests and the effect on water supply before they start
  9. deploy equipment, checking condition, connecting, setting up and configuring it in line with manufacturers’ instructions
  10. download and interpret data from equipment to identify, pinpoint and verify accurate location of water loss before marking up water loss position
  11. record and report the position of water loss, the need for further investigation and any local, environmental or traffic conditions or deviations in positions of waters pipes, surface fittings or street furniture in accordance with organisational requirements
  12. determine and advise on urgency and acceptable timescales for dealing with identified water loss in compliance with quantity, rate of water loss and organisational service standards
  13. determine the options for disruption to supply and potential extent of disruption that is necessary to deal with identified water loss situations
  14. retrieve, dismantle, clean and return equipment to storage after use in line with organisational procedures

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. regulations, organisational procedures and standards, specifications and processes relating to health, safety, environment, emergencies, hygiene and water loss
  2. the impact on other utilities including safety of sewerage, gas, electricity and communication services
  3. types of tracing tools including metal detectors, cable avoidance tools and signal generators and how to use them to trace water pipes and apparatus including metallic or non-metallic, surface fittings including valve covers, meter chamber covers or hydrant covers
  4. tracing techniques and procedures including visual, electronic (induction, connection and radio) and measurement, when it is appropriate to use them and specified limits for tracing them
  5. how different water loss problems manifest themselves on the network and factors to take into account when making a judgement about them, including leakage, drought, peaks in demand, new user demand or any other types of unaccounted for water loss
  6. water loss detection methods and techniques including acoustic, flow and pressure, step testing and visual and how they can be sequenced and combined
  7. the suitability of water loss detection methods for different circumstances and pipework configurations, different conditions and type of infrastructure in linear and non-linear configurations
  8. types of tracing and detection equipment including correlators and flow and pressure loggers, the techniques they apply to, their availability, cost effectiveness and limitations and how to check they are safe for use, set up, calibrate and used for final pinpointing of water loss
  9. sources of information and how to access them including current plans, data, records, trend from historic data, visual inspection of route of mains
  10. how to interpret and analyse information relating to network infrastructure and assets, resources, customers, effect on water quality, environmental details, traffic, noise levels and trends including non-conventional markings such as marker posts
  11. how to determine the urgency of a water loss situation
  12. the benefits of using noise suppression and when it is appropriate
  13. the purpose and methods of checking flow and pressure in the event of variations
  14. how to determine supply disruption details and potential effects on water quality and customers and how to identify those who may be affected by testing activities
  15. reporting policies, requirements and procedures relating to tracing and detection activity including notification, customer contact, marking the route of mains and reporting the urgency of a water loss situation, issues and problems