Let’s be real, water leak can become such a nuisance, since it can have significant and far-reaching impacts on infrastructure. The consequences of water leaks extend beyond immediate financial costs, affecting various aspects of urban and industrial systems.
Infrastructure damage
Prolonged water leaks can lead to devastating infrastructure damage, such as the deterioration of pipes, roads and buildings. Water seepage can weaken foundations and compromise the structural integrity of infrastructure elements.
Not only that, water leaks also have significant implications for indoor air quality and human health. When moisture from leaks accumulates in buildings, it creates a damp environment that is ideal for the growth of mold and mildew. They thrive on a variety of surfaces, including carpets, walls, ceilings, and even obscure areas like wall cavities and under floors.
Financial losses and environmental impact
Every drop of this precious resource matters. However, water leaks result in the loss of treated water, which has both economic and environmental costs.
Water utilities incur financial losses due to the wasted resources in treating, pumping, and distributing water that never reaches consumers. The process of supplying water, treating in for consumption, and distributing it requires a large quantity of energy. In order to make up for leakage, even higher energy requirements are needed to compensate for the water loss, also leading to the increase of the carbon emission level and impacting the environment. Nonetheless, commercial establishments, especially those reliant on water for various processes (including industries like manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality), may also experience financial losses due to interruptions caused by water leaks.
Water scarcity
Water leaks, whether coming from a dripping faucet, a broken pipe, or and undetected underground leak, are regrettably a major cause of significant water loss and resource depletion. This leads to the reduction of availability of treated water for consumers.
According to many studies, leaks cause a sizable amount of water loss each year. In fact, it’s estimated that homes, infrastructure, and buildings have leaks that cost billions of gallons of water annually. This excessive water loss puts stress on local water supply, especially in areas where there is already a water shortage.
For example, Zhang et al. (2021) stated in their research that Pakistan faced water shortages that killed hundreds of thousands of people every year, because people simply didn’t have access to clean water. “Accroding to IMF, Pakistan ranks third on the list of water-scarce countries…by 2025 the country will be facing a severe water shortage”. The prominent cause of this was due to an inefficient canal system and major water leakages, as more than 50% of the water extracted from Indus river systeam didn’t reach their farms.
Impact on sustainable goals
Water leaks can hinder progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and the overall goal of sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
Effective water leak detection will play a vital role in mitigating the damage caused by leaks. By detecting leaks early on, it becomes possible to address them promptly and prevent further harm to buildings and infrastructure. Regular inspections, both visual and through advanced technologies, can help identify potential leak sources, even in hard-to-reach areas.
With the assistance of GAILL powered by AI technologies, these systems can swiftly minimize water losses and contribute to the sustainability of water resources, infrastructure resilience, and overall environmental and economic well-being. Let’s Act Fast!
Reference:
Water Leak Detection. (2023, May 26). The Environmental Impact Of Water Leaks. Water Leak Detection. https://www.waterleakdetection.net.au/environmental-impact-water-leaks/
Zhang, D., Sial, M. S., Ahmad, N., Filipe, A. J., Thu, P. A., Zia-Ud-Din, M., & Caleiro, A. B. (2021). Water Scarcity and Sustainability in an Emerging Economy: A Management Perspective for Future. Sustainability, 13(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010144