Development of a methodology for locating leaks in water lines

The present article deals with the problem of leaks in drinking water distr ibution networks. Because of monetary losses related to those leaks, and of the current municipal context, it is important to reduce them to an accept able level. Several techniques allow efficient elimination of leaks. Howeve r, when municipalities wish to set up a program for leak elimination on the ir networks, these techniques can turn out to be expensive. This research a ims at developing a new technique which allows municipal managers to target the most problematic sectors or pipe reaches. Unlike the other techniques, this one is based on the study of pressure drops caused by leaks. This new leak detection approach presents a certain advantage by providing municipa lities with a general idea on the leak problem which affects their networks as a whole. The proposed technique allows the identification of sectors or pipes affected with leak problems so that it is possible to identify more precisely which ones request a more extensive auscultation through other ex isting techniques. The costs related to the use of these techniques might b e reduced as a result of an efficient preliminary diagnosis.