Pumps, Lift Stations and Conveyance

Pumps, Lift Stations and Conveyance
Pressure-reducing valves help reduce water loss

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Pressure-reducing valves help reduce water loss  

Problem: With aging infrastructure, the City of Melaka in Malaysia had significant nonrevenue water losses with leakage rates at 33.9 percent, accounting for 152,000 cubic meters of water loss per day and close to 3,000 burst pipes per year.

Solution: The city did a water audit and determined that by putting in 168 district metered areas they would have better pressure management and control of flow throughout the system. For every 1 percent increase in pressure, leakage goes up by 1.15 percent, so by supplying just the right amount of pressure you can significantly reduce leakage. Each DMA was fitted with pressure-reducing valves from Singer Valve that maintained a steady setpoint of pressure regardless of fluctuations in flow. They also added altitude valves to accurately control the level of the water tanks and stop overflow.

Result: Leakage has been reduced to 21.4 percent, which is a total savings of $5,232,857 per year. Burst pipes are down by 93 percent to 200 a year, and reservoirs are maintaining their desired levels of water without overflowing, which will help delay water rations in the dry season. By managing water pressure, Melaka was able to realize significant savings so they can now provide more connections and upgrades to infrastructure. 604/594-5404; www.singervalve.com.



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