A team of Awar Water experts, led by our Executive Director Dr. Faraj El Awar, provided field expert services to the South Lebanon Water Establishment (SLWE) for non-revenue water reduction. The team executed a field pilot project for DMA isolation and leak detection and fixing of the water distribution network of Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon. This project was a follow up to the “Sustainable Management of Non-Revenue Water” project, which provided to the beneficiary regional water establishments in Lebanon (Bekaa, North Lebanon, and South Lebanon Water Establishments) the needed technical basis for non-revenue water (NRW) management (network GIS maps, hydraulic models, and calculated NRW levels through water accounting). The project main objective was to demonstrate in the field the whole process of isolation of DMAs, as well as leak detection and fixing, as a means of physical NRW reduction.  

Project Scope of Work:

1. DMA boundary identification:

Identify the actual boundaries of the pilot DMAs of Hay El Wadi and Hay El Dabsheh in Bint Jbeil, check for any needed update the water network map, check valve chambers, and identify any visual leaks and/or water piracy. 

2. Production of an initial water balance:

Conducting a simultaneous reading of the bulk meter and household meters within the DMA, and producing an initial water balance for the DMA (based on mass balance equation).

3. Isolation from other DMAs in the network:

Checking for any connections with other neighborhoods/DMAs in Bint Jbeil (zero pressure test), in light of the initial water balance results, and isolating Hay El-Mihaniyyeh (HEM) DMA until the end of the proposed fieldwork by shutting down any outgoing water supply to any other DMAs.

4. Leak detection over all main and Household connection pipes:

Conducting at two scans of water leaks, using ground microphone and any other leak detection equipment available at SLWE. Conducting the first scan on the main pipes, and the second scan on house connections.

5. Preparation for, and coordination of, detected-leak fixing:

Marking detected leaks in preparation for fixing, and coordinating with SLWE staff that are responsible for fixing detected leaks within the DMA. Conducting a third scan after fixing of detected water leaks to make sure that all detected leaks have been properly fixed.

6. Proposing pressure management measures for the DMA:

Measuring the pressure head at several points within the network and propose measures (e.g. using pressure reducing valves (PRV’s) to ensure that a maximum pressure of 1.5 to 2.0 bars (15 to 20 meters of head) is kept at all critical points and nodes of the DMA. The objective is to show that proper pressure management helps reduce network leaks and water losses in general.

7. Production of a final water balance:

Conducting a simultaneous reading of the bulk meter and household meters within the DMA after isolation of the HEM DMA from other DMAs and fixing of all detected leaks. Producing a final water balance for the DMA based on mass balance equation and analyzing the results.

8. Presentation and documentation:

Presenting all the above work and results to SLWE top management and relevant staff, and documenting the work in a detailed standard report. 

Project Results

1. Identifying the actual boundaries, and isolation, of the pilot DMAs in Hay El Wadi and Hay El Dabsheh. All end pipes of both pilot DMAs were fully checked using ground microphones and listening sticks. Isolation of both pilot DMAs from neighboring DMAs and network pressurization in both DMAs were both confirmed through this initial check.

2. Production of an initial water balance, physical water losses, and physical NRW ratios in the pilot DMAs. The initial water balance of each of the pilot DMAs was calculated based on mass balance equation. Physical non-revenue water (NRW) was considered as the percentage of water losses within the network out of the total volume of water supplied into the network at the inlet of the DMA.

3. Leak and illegal connection detection over all main and household connection pipes using ground microphones and listening sticks. All detected leaks and illegal connections were marked on site, as well as through registration of GPS coordinates for later intervention and fixing.

4. Preparation for, and coordination of, detected-leak fixing, as well as the disconnection of detected illegal connections, with our counterparts at SLWE.

5. Proposing pressure management measures for the DMA. Pressure head was measured at the critical points of Hay El Wadi and Hay El Dabsheh after finishing the process of leak fixing and disconnection of illegal connections in both DMAs. The pressure at critical points in both DMAs measured between 1.5 and 2.0 bars, which proved that the NRW management interventions not only reduced NRW, but also had a positive impact on pressure distribution throughout the pilot DMAs.

6. Production of a final water balance in both pilot DMAs. After coordinating the process and confirming that detected water leaks were fixed and illegal connections were disconnected, we developed a final water balance and calculated new NRW rate in each of the DMAs. Calculations showed that the NRW rate was reduced in the pilot DMAs from an average of more than 60 % to about 19 % in Hay El Wadi and 28 % in Hay El Dabsheh DMAs.

Project Client: WeWorld – GVC

Project Donor: European Commission