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Leak control program urged for CUC
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Posted on Oct 21 2004
Water audits and leak detection surveys are the two major steps that need to be made to systematically control leakage, according to a company seeking to provide services to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Quantum Pacific, a group of water professionals from American Samoa, urged CUC to implement leakage control programs to stop the loss of 40 to 60 percent of water generated by the utility firm.
“Economic pressure, concern over public health risk and simply the need to conserve water motivate water system operators to implement leakage control programs,” Quantum Pacific said in a proposal to CUC.
According to the company, water audits involve detailed accounting of water flow into and out of the distribution system or parts of it. The audits help identify areas having excessive leakage, it said.
However, audits do not provide information about the location of leaks. To do this, leak detection surveys must be done.
Leak detection is done using computer-based instruments that measure leak signals in the form of sound or vibration. Several makes of acoustic leak detection equipment are now commercially available, Quantum Pacific said.
“A leak detection and metering program will pave the way for implementing a sustainable and long-term program to assure that all of Saipan’s residents will get 24-hour water within the allotted time period,” the group said. “The ultimate objective is to reduce water losses by at least half. Annual water saving will be reinvested to supply the entire population of Saipan with 24-hour water.”
Quantum said that the program, which has been recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, include mapping of the water supply system, modeling of water flows, optimization of network operations based on automatic pressure control systems, identification of leaks, and repair or replacement of pipelines to eliminate leaks.
While it did not make a specific price quotation, Quantum Pacific said U.S. Interior Department grants and the CNMI’s capital improvement project funds may be tapped to finance a significant portion of the project costs.
