Design And Construction Of An Automated Water Pipe Burst Detector

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Water distribution systems are designed to satisfy the water requirements for domestic, commercial, industrial, and fire-fighting purposes. The system should be capable of meeting the demands and pressures at each node within the distribution system at all times. Hydraulic analysis of water distribution system is an essential step towards understanding the behaviour of water supply and distribution system which includes the flow, pressure, velocity, head loss, efficiency and operation point of each pump.

Water distribution system may include facilities for collection, storage, transportation, pumping, treatment and distribution. Of the total expenditure incurred on different facilities of a water distribution system, the expenditure incurred on transportation and distribution of water is quite large and may even exceed 70%. A drinking water distribution system must be able to supply water to all consumers at their delivery points throughout the design period. Water distribution systems deteriorate over time. It is not economically viable to replace all deteriorating pipelines in aging water distribution systems. Therefore, careful planning of maintenance activities for water distribution systems is essential. Optimal rehabilitation and maintenance strategies will not only save money but also will improve the level of service, increase the satisfaction of customers, enhance the life and reliability of the water distribution systems.

Water supply systems are among the most important public utilities, because safe supply of potable water is the basic necessity of mankind in any given municipality (Swamee & Sharma 2008). In 2010, an estimated amount of about 85% of the world’s population (i.e. 6.74 billion (10⁹) people) had access to piped water supply through house connections (Anisha et al., 2016). These connections form an integral part of the master plan for communities, countries, and municipalities. Abdulkadir & Sule (2012) noted that a distribution system must supply water of good quality, in adequate quantities and at sufficient pressure to meet system requirements to the users.

With the growth of the world population, the demand of fresh water has increased causing serious problems in the field of water supply. Therefore, control of water has become a considerable issue today. Scientists, technicians, politicians, and generally, many other inhabitants of the planet become increasingly educated on the subject. The threat of pollution hovers over and limits water supplies. The shortage of this vital liquid requires great attention. The proportion of fresh water found in rivers, lakes, and underground sources comprise only 3% of the total amount of water on earth (Swamee, 2016). In addition, the water found needs treatment for human consumption, to eliminate particles and organism harmful to health, and ultimately must distribute through pipes to homes safely (Swamee, 2016). This work focuses on the issue of distribution, more specifically, on the issue of “water leaks” in residential areas. Anyone who’s had a water heater, dishwasher or burst pipe disaster in their home knows how important early detection can be. Even those slow leaks that only cause mold damage require expenses to repair. The more water spilled (or splashed) the more money the repairs cost to residents. For this reason, it’s crucial to have some system installed in residences to detect water pipe burst. This lead to construction of a water pipe burst detector.

The water pipe burst detector is an electronic device designed to detect the presence of burst water pipe which provide an alert in time to allow the prevention of water damage.

1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The water supply shortage has increased in recent years due to overpopulation, climate change and obsolete water facilities, where deteriorated pipes cause most of the water leaks. The problem is not the size of the burst, but the time it takes to detect it. This paper presents the implementation of a system built to detect water pipe burst in real time.

1.3      AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The main aim of this work is to build an automated water pipe burst detector. The objectives of the study are:

1. To build the system prototype
2. To estimate, determine and locate water losses from water distribution networks

• To alert the user through SMS alert message whenever there is water pipe burst

1. To reduce problems caused by leaked water

1.4      SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The scope of this project covers building a water pipe burst detecting system, a simple but cost effective water pipe burst detection system, implemented in residential areas which is based on the IOT. The system consists of a water sensor installed by a water reservoir of interest, a microprocessor to interpret the data and evaluate whether it is a water leak or not, an SMS alert message, and an electrical actuator to shut off the main water supply to avoid leakage

1.5      APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

Water pipe burst detector is an expression more commonly used for larger, integrated systems installed in modern buildings or those containing valuable artifacts, materials or other critical assets where early notification of a potentially damaging leak or burst proves beneficial. Specifically, water pipe burst detection has become a necessity in data centers, trading floors, banks, archives, and homes.

1.6      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

This study shall serve as a means of understanding the need for detecting and protecting water pipe burst. So, with the help of this system, the pipe burst detection in the water pipeline can be easily identified and the problems related to it can be rectified easily. Students involved in this work shall become versatile with IoT facilities.

1.7      Project Motivation

Water scarcity is a global issue, which involves a continuous reform of the concept of directing water supplies to individual wells globally. Studies have shown that the amount of usable water declines to a minimum level after many years. One explanation is the public and institutional lack of knowledge and that  of a monitoring network of water quantity, which causes significant global problems.