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Kouga launches smart leak detection technology

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Dear Editor

The DA-led Kouga municipality is once again leading by example, with the deployment of new smart leak detection technology. The new technology enables the municipality to ‘sweep’ water pipes with an acoustic listening device, to detect underground water leaks that are not yet visible above ground.

Kouga has been facing dire water shortages, as an ongoing crippling drought has placed immense strain on available water resources.

People need water to survive, from cooking, cleaning and flushing toilets, to running schools and businesses. Without water, the town would collapse.

The acoustic listening device, the Aqua AM300, is just one element of the state-of-the-art leak detection vehicle that was officially launched by Kouga Municipality in Jeffreys Bay last week.

Since being brought online in September, the project has already prevented the loss of approximately 420 000 liters of water per day. The value of saving this water is conservatively estimated to be in the vicinity of R 1.3 million per anum.

By deploying state-of-the-art solutions, the municipality is saving millions of litres of water that would otherwise have been lost, and which can now be utilized by residents.

Executive Mayor of Kouga, Horatio Hendricks, said the leak detection vehicle was procured through a NAKOPA Partnership Project between Kouga Municipality and Ilsfeld Municipality in Germany.

The project is funded with more than 200 000 Euro through the German Competence Centre for Local Development Cooperation (SKEW) over a period of three years.

Apart from acoustic leak detection, which involves listening for signs of a leak by tapping a stick microphone to a meter or pipe connection – the vehicle is also equipped with a correlator (accumulator and PC with two measuring boxes and other attachments that are to be utilised for establishing where in the pipeline the source of the leak is most likely to be situated).

This is a crucial time to ensure that municipalities are proactive, instead of reactive, especially as far as protecting water security is concerned.

The DA-led Kouga Municipality will continue to drive innovation to ensure that it remains efficient, not only in terms of fixing water leaks but also effectively detecting unknown water leaks as an additional weapon against the ongoing drought.

Regards

Dr Vicky Knoetze, MPL
DA EC Kouga Constituency Leader

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.