MUSCAT: Since its launch in 2021, Nama Water Services has achieved an impressive 18% reduction in water loss. This is a significant step forward considering the global challenge of leaks in water networks. Around one-third of the world's drinking water is lost due to these leaks, both visible and hidden underground. The main culprits are aging pipes and damage caused by construction, repairs, and other activities.
Nama Water Services is committed to tackling water leaks by adopting multiple approaches. The company uses cutting-edge technology and advanced methods to pinpoint and fix leaks, significantly reducing water loss. The company has achieved remarkable successes in this field and is striving to keep up the momentum this year.
In this context, Engineer Abdullah bin Mohammed al Naimi, CEO of Operations and Maintenance at Nama Water Services, explains: "Water utilities around the world, including Nama Water Services, face the challenge of water loss from leaks in their networks. This leakage wastes precious drinking water and inflates production costs. There are two main types of water loss: technical loss and commercial loss.
Engineer Al Naimi commended the company's tireless leak detection teams. They use a multi-pronged approach to minimize water loss. This includes network monitoring, specialized leak detection equipment, and cutting-edge techniques like drone technology. Drones equipped with thermal and multispectral cameras patrol water transmission lines across regions. This aerial perspective helps pinpoint hidden leaks. The captured data seamlessly integrates with the company's GIS for enhanced analysis. Additionally, drones overcome access challenges posed by high-rise tanks. They conduct thorough inspections swiftly and safely, eliminating worker risks. Thermal imaging, a key strength of drones, pinpoints temperature variations, a telltale sign of leaks. Moreover, drones cover vast areas efficiently, regardless of terrain, saving significant time and effort compared to traditional methods.
Elaborating on the technologies used by Nama Water Services, Engineer Khalil bin Suleiman al Adwi (Technical Loss Engineer), noted that satellite imagery (satellite) technology, which is a global platform on which the company has registered by purchasing some images specific to the Sultanate of Oman. These high-resolution images, encompassing 3,500 square kilometers each, identify potential leak locations. Nama Water's team then investigates these areas to verify and address any leaks.
This technology has proven to be highly effective, as it has contributed to shortening the time and effort spent. Now, the role of the company's teams is limited to inspecting potential sites according to satellite images. Currently, the company employs 12 teams of qualified and equipped Omani cadres, in addition to 12 teams formed by the company's subcontractors, distributed in all the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, and are fully prepared to respond to any leak reports and deal with them quickly and professionally.
Engineer Al Adwi continues: "Nama Water Services utilizes noise monitoring sensors to pinpoint leaks. These smart devices listen to the constant sound of running water, filtering out background noise to ensure accurate leak identification. A network of strategically placed, tiny sensors covers vast areas, effectively pinpointing the exact location of leaks. They can differentiate between the continuous hum of a leak and everyday noises."
Engineer Abdulrahman bin Sultan al Shaqsi (Technical Loss Engineer) stated: "The use of these technologies has had a significant impact and great benefit in reducing technical water loss. In addition to the efforts of efficient and experienced Omani youth. Nama Water Services trains a number of SMEs to work in leak detection and develop their capabilities, and some work has also been assigned to these enterprises under the supervision and monitoring of the company's engineers and technicians."
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