An Innovation Leap
for Leak Detection
Across the Network
David Mason
Customer Director | Iota Services
March 2023
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A genuine partner to the global water industry
Who Is Iota?
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A wholly owned subsidiary of South East Water

Network Bursts
South East Water Network
Delivering:
• Water
• Sewerage
• Recycled water
Servicing 1.9 million people
Pipe Network: 14,381 km’s of water mains

Water Scarcity Drives Need for a Smarter Approach
Figure from Water for a Thriving Future report by Melbourne Water
Supply and demand scenarios in Melbourne
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The Need For Digital in Water
Utilities face growing challenges
Ageing assets
Rising customer
expectations
Water scarcity
from climate change
and population growth
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Digital is Central to Meeting SE Water's Customer Priorities
Get the basics
right, always
Support my
community, protect
our environment
Make my
experience better
Fair and
affordable for all
Warn me,
inform me
Digital initiatives are key to many of these

Not the main cause of
non-revenue water !!
Network Bursts

Current Practice vs. The Future
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Economically scalable
Traditional Approach.
Manual Listening
Sticks
New Innovative Approach.
IoT platform + Digital Meter with
integrated network leak detection

Network Leak Detection at Scale
Vibration Sensor integrated to detect leaks
Digital Meter
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Shift network
maintenance from
reactive to proactive
Identify network leaks
before they are visible

Minimising non-revenue water losses
Evidence of leak
Post
repair
Leak detected
After network leak repair
Before network leak repair
Heat map – Digital meter sensor data
South East Water Case Study
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Leak detected
Post repair

South East Water Digital Utility Outcomes at Scale
Expected water saved
(Annually at full deployment)
1.63 GL (>1%)
Sotto® network leak
sensors deployed
31,700 meters
Reduced Network Leaks
Customers notified of a
potential leak
Saved by customers
$2.6 million
Water saved from 81,900
meters deployed
659 ML
Average saved off customers
next quarterly bill
$407
12,200
(13%)
Reduced Customer Leaks
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Data on March 17, 2023

Digital Meters Deliver Exponentially More Data
Per mechanical meter
1
Per digital meter
6,661
Data Points Per Quarter
mechanical meters
4 million
digital meters
26 billion
Data Points Per Annum
6,661 times more data
Based on South East Water’s future network of 1,000,000 digital water meters

South East Water
Advanced analytics One million+ devices Virtual leak locator
What’s next
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Collaboration
Iota’s Role Within the Industry
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Partners Collaboration with industry leaders

david.mason@iota.net.au iotaservices.com.au
Thank you