Water leaks cost Keetmanshoop N$16m in 2018
The Namibian
June 2020
THE southern town of Keetmanshoop has in the past lost 120 cubic metres of water per hour. This added up to a loss of N$16 million in 2018.
A French environmental consultancy, with funding from the French government, conducted a study revealing this.
The study focussed on the sustained and optimal performance of the water supply grid.
The project involved the use of diagnostic analysis and preparation of the master plan for the town’s distribution network at a cost of N$12 million.
It stems from a memorandum of understanding the French firm and NamWater had signed to ensure sustainable water supply to the southern town.
According to the findings of the study, less than 0, 2% of the water network is renewed annually and maintenance work is given very low priority.
This is due to financial constraints and insufficiently trained municipal workers.
The study states no leak detection campaigns have been carried out before the study, and as a result leaks would remain unattended for weeks.
NamWater benefited from the study since a Geographical Information System (GIS) was set up to locate leaks, and a technical tender for the renewal of the conveyance pipeline was developed.
The 35 km-pipeline renewal would cost around N$113 million, the diagnosis report states.
Additionally the town benefited through state-of-the-art equipment provided by the French company Altereo to detect leakages as well as training for managers on leak detection.
Altereo, according to the study report, developed and implemented the GIS for the Keetmanshoop municipality.
The report states Keetmanshoop has reduced leaks by 16,2% since the study was commenced.
It also recommended a 2020-2040 water master plan for the town, which would cost N$135 million.
by Luqman Cloete
Final presentation of the Naute Dam – Keetmanshoop FASEP Study / Altereo
France in Namibia / Embassy of France in Windhoek
June 2020
The FASEP study on the Naute Dam-Keetmanshoop scheme, started 04th October 2018, is now completed.
On the 19th of November 2018, a MoU between NamWater and Altereo was signed in the significant presence of Hon. Anna Shiweda. The agreed study, financed by the French Treasury, aims to secure the sustainable supply of water in Keetmanshoop through diagnostic analysis of the existing infrastructure, water demand master plan and enhancement of the distribution network in the municipality.
NamWater diagnosis
Presently, due in part to the state of the existing steel pipeline laid in 1971, the urgent need for maintenance and the increasing frequency of leaks, renewal of the old sections, about 35km, needs to be taken into consideration on the pipeline between the Naute Dam and Keetmanshoop.
Given the calculations with regards to the 2040 water demand projection in Keetmanshoop, the optimal size of the pipeline, capable of meeting the evolving needs, is estimated to be 450mm. For a longer life expectancy, Altereo recommended buried DCI materials to NamWater for the new pipeline. In addition, as it is hydraulically possible and financially more viable, it is recommended that the 7,400m of GRP pipes laid in 2011 be conserved.
Due to a proper maintenance, the rest of the NamWater facilities: treatment plant, pumping stations, and reservoirs are in very good state even though they were built 50 years ago. Very few rehabilitations works will have to be realized by NamWater to sustain the constructions.
Keetmanshoop diagnosis
The total linear of the Keetmanshoop water network is 150 km with 80% of the pipes made of asbestos cement essentially laid between 1950 and 1980. Between 2015 and 2019, about 300 main leaks ( 0.4 break/km/year) were recorded and fixed by the municipal water services. By analyzing the minimum night flow, it can be estimated around 120m3/h of leaks in the entire network, which represents 50% of the water purchased to NamWater (hydraulic yield). This constituted a loss of N$ 16,000,000.00 in 2018 for the municipality.
Less than 0.2% of the network is renewed every year and very low importance is given to maintenance due to financial constraint and a lack of training of the municipal employees. Moreover, no leak detection campaigns were performed by the municipality before the study and leaks could remain unattended for weeks before being attended.
The diagnosis also highlighted issues with the methodology to find and repair leaks, with the global knowledge of the network and the state of the municipal reservoir.
Project benefits for NamWater and the Keetmanshoop Municipality
For NamWater, the benefits of the project were the setting up of a Geographical Information System (GIS) to locate the leaks and the elaboration of a technical Tender for the renewal of the conveyance pipeline. It includes the recommendations made by Altereo for the choice of the equipment, technical drawings (pipeline, valves, manholes, etc.) and a bill of quantity. The total cost for the 35km pipeline renewal is estimated around 113,000,000 NAD excluding VAT.
For Keetmanshoop, French state-of-the-art equipment was provided to the municipality: 6 RUBIN SONIC flowmeters and 6 PRIMAYER GSM loggers to collect minimum night flow data and 6 FAST prelocation loggers, 1 FAST ground microphone and 5 IJINUS pressure loggers for leak detection. In addition, several trainings were delivered to the managers and site agents on leak detection and the Geographical Information System developed and implemented by Altereo: KIS.
The first water Master Plan (2020-2040) was elaborated by Altereo for the municipality: pipes renewal program, network securing with the creation of a new reservoir, etc. The Master Plan will approximately costs 135,000,000 NAD excluding VAT to the municipality between 2020 and 2040.
From the beginning of the study to the end, a reduction of 16.2% of the leaks have been observed due to the commitment of the Municipality of the leak detection campaigns realized by Altereo.
Conclusion of the project
The final presentation of the FASEP study was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform on the 9th of June 2020. Were present at the meeting: Her Excellency Claire Bodonyi, French Ambassador of France to Namibia, Her Worship Gaudentia Kröhne (right on the picture), Mayor of Keetmanshoop, Mr Percy Misika, ED of the MAWLR, Mr Desmond Basson (middle right on the picture), CEO of Keetmanshoop, Ms Maria Amakali, Director of Water for MAWLR, Mr Saltiel Shaanika (left on the picture), Head Civil Engineering of NamWater, Ms Martha Tsheehama, ENDA for NPC, Mr Henry Beukes, Hydrogeologist for MAWLR and Mr Dorian Jornet, International Project Manager for Altereo (middle left on the picture).
Altereo’s water network asset management system wins French national grand prize for engineering
Water Word
March 2020
The French National Grand Prize for Engineering is awarded every year to teams having conceived either an outstanding product or project in the field of industry or construction. This contest is organized by the French Ministries of Ecology, of Territories and of Finance and Economy. The French National Grand Prize for Engineering in the Territories and innovation category was awarded to Altereo and its team for their HpO® Artificial Intelligence system.
With HpO®, Altereo contributes to the high performance of water supply networks through failure risk prediction to optimize network maintenance and replacement. HpO® relies on artificial intelligence with unprecedented efficiency. Altereo insists that avoided leaks must be considered as one of the first and foremost water resources, easily tapped… as they are already tapped. The deterioration of water networks is a Worldwide challenge causing leakage which can reach over 50% in some countries. At the same time, climate change, demographic growth and raising social desires are increasing water demand. In addition to stress on water resources, the impact of leakage on CO2 emissions is estimated to a quarter of that of worldwide air traffic. To solve the water demand-leakage nexus, both the number of leaks and their duration have to be cut down HpO® brings an answer to this twin objective, by processing data from leak repairs by field agents who become, through the HpO® Collect mobile application, the most performing smart sensors.
HpO® predicts water network failure risks
Altereo’s R&D department has fine-tuned artificial intelligence algorithms able to analyze massive data to predict failure risks on all the components of water networks to optimize both leak detection and progressive replacement of infrastructure. To this day, HpO® is deployed in several cities like the Paris Greater Area, Chartres, even Noumea and will soon be in Orleans, Limoges and Tours in France, Namibia and South Africa. Altereo is building a partner program worldwide to contribute with HpO® to the high performance of water supply for present and future generations and serve the United Nations Global Goals. The French innovating company is opening the award-winning HpO® technology to selected engineering consultancies in every country looking to develop their local/regional market with exclusive added-value. The call for candidates is open until end of March 2020.
AI water asset managing system wins award
Trenchless International
March 2020
Altereo’s artificial intelligence water network asset management system HpO® has won the French National Grand Prize for Engineering.
With HpO® and the subsequent HpO® Collect mobile application, Altereo ensures water supply networks can continue to operate at a high performance owed to its failure risk prediction that optimises network maintenance and replacement.
The system relies on artificial intelligence to provide unprecedented efficiency and solve the water demand-leakage relationship – the number of leaks and the duration need to be cut down.
The deterioration of water networks is a global challenge, as leakage has reached more than 50 per cent of water assets in some countries.
Simultaneously, climate change, demographic growth and raising social desires are increasing water demand.
Altereo aims to solve this problem, by utilising its research and development department to analyse massive data to predict failure risks on all the components of water networks which will optimise both leak detection and progressive replacement of infrastructure.
The system has won the French National Grand Prize for Engineering for an outstanding product in the field of industry or construction in the territories and innovation category.
Currently, HpO® is deployed in several cities throughout France as well as Namibia and South Africa with the company planning future international expansions.
Altero wins the French National Grand Prize for Engineering in the “Territories and innovation” category
Water & WasteWater Asia
March 2020
The French National Grand Prize for Engineering is awarded every year to teams having conceived either an outstanding product or project in the field of industry or construction. This contest is organised by the French Ministries of Ecology, of Territories and of Finance and Economy, in partnership with the professional federation Syntec-Ingénierie and in association with Le Moniteur group.
The French National Grand Prize for Engineering in the «Territories and innovation» category was awarded to Altereo and its team for their HpO® Artificial Intelligence system.
With HpO®, Altereo contributes to the high performance of water supply networks through failure risk prediction to optimise network maintenance and replacement. HpO® relies on artificial intelligence with unprecedented efficiency.
Altereo states that avoided leaks must be considered as one of the first and foremost water resources, easily tapped as they already are.
The deterioration of water networks causes leakage which can reach over 50% in some countries. Beyond wasting of water resources, the impact of leaks on greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to a quarter of that of worldwide air traffic, whilst water demand in Southern countries is exploding consecutively to demographic growth and urbanisation.
To achieve this, both the number of leaks and their duration have to be cut down. HpO® brings an answer to this twin objective, by processing data from leak repairs by field agents who become, through the HpO® Collect mobile application, the most performing smart sensors.
HpO® predicts water network failure risks
Altereo’s R&D department has fine-tuned artificial intelligence algorithms able to analyse massive data to predict failure risks on all the components of water networks to optimise both leak detection and progressive replacement of infrastructure. To this day, HpO® is deployed in several cities like Chartres, Noumea and even in Namibia and will soon be in Orleans, Limoges and Tours.
Altereo has an international ambition with HpO®
Altereo is building a partner program worldwide to contribute with HpO® to the high performance of water supply for present and future generations and serve the United Nations Global Goals.
Artificial Intelligence Water Network Asset Management system HpO
Artificial Intelligence Research
March 2020
With HpO®, Altereo contributes to the high performance of water supply networks through failure risk prediction to optimise network maintenance and replacement. HpO® relies on artificial intelligence with unprecedented efficiency.
Altereo insists that avoided leaks must be considered as one of the first and foremost water resources, easily tapped… as they are already tapped.
The deterioration of water networks is a Worldwide challenge causing leakage which can reach over 50% in some countries. At the same time, climate change, demographic growth and raising social desires are increasing water demand. In addition to stress on water resources, the impact of leakage on CO² emissions is estimated to a quarter of that of worldwide air traffic.
To solve the water demand-leakage nexus, both the number of leaks and their duration have to be cut down.
HpO® brings an answer to this twin objective, by processing data from leak repairs by field agents who become, through the HpO® Collect mobile application, the most performing smart sensors.
HpO® predicts water network failure risks
Altereo’s R&D department has fine-tuned artificial intelligence algorithms able to analyse massive data to predict failure risks on all the components of water networks to optimise both leak detection and progressive replacement of infrastructure. To this day, HpO® is deployed in several cities like the Paris Greater Area, Chartres, even Noumea and will soon be in Orleans, Limoges and Tours in France, Namibia and South Africa.
Altereo has an international ambition with the HpO® Worldwide partner program
Altereo is building a partner program worldwide to contribute with HpO® to the high performance of water supply for present and future generations and serve the United Nations Global Goals. The French innovating company is opening the award-winning HpO® technology to selected engineering consultancies in every country looking to develop their local/regional market with exclusive added-value. The call for candidates is open until end of March 2020.
About Altereo
Altereo has been operating for 30 years in France and internationally in the fields of water and environment, public utility management, sustainable development of cities and territories and geographic intelligence solutions for these same fields. Present on 4 continents (Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania), Altereo is an independent group controlled by its founder chairman Christian Laplaud, its managing director, Gilles Brunschwig, its managers and IXO investment fund. With continuous growth, Altereo employs 180 persons today and has achieved an annual turnover of 15 M€ in 2019 and a 7% growth. To catalyse its development, the group relies on internationalisation and innovation with more than 5% of its annual turnover invested into R&D.
Altereo’s Artificial Intelligence Water Network Asset Management system HpO® wins the French National Grand Prize for Engineering
GIScafe
March 2020
The French National Grand Prize for Engineering is awarded every year to teams having conceived either an outstanding product or project in the field of industry or construction. This contest is organised by the French Ministries of Ecology, of Territories and of Finance and Economy. The French National Grand Prize for Engineering in the «Territories and innovation» category was awarded to Altereo and its team for their HpO® Artificial Intelligence system.
With HpO®, Altereo contributes to the high performance of water supply networks through failure risk prediction to optimise network maintenance and replacement. HpO® relies on artificial intelligence with unprecedented efficiency.
Altereo insists that avoided leaks must be considered as one of the first and foremost water resources, easily tapped… as they are already tapped.
The deterioration of water networks is a Worldwide challenge causing leakage which can reach over 50% in some countries. At the same time, climate change, demographic growth and raising social desires are increasing water demand. In addition to stress on water resources, the impact of leakage on CO² emissions is estimated to a quarter of that of worldwide air traffic.
To solve the water demand-leakage nexus, both the number of leaks and their duration have to be cut down.
HpO® brings an answer to this twin objective, by processing data from leak repairs by field agents who become, through the HpO® Collect mobile application, the most performing smart sensors.
HpO® predicts water network failure risks
Altereo’s R&D department has fine-tuned artificial intelligence algorithms able to analyse massive data to predict failure risks on all the components of water networks to optimise both leak detection and progressive replacement of infrastructure. To this day, HpO® is deployed in several cities like the Paris Greater Area, Chartres, even Noumea and will soon be in Orleans, Limoges and Tours in France, Namibia and South Africa.
Altereo has an international ambition with the HpO® Worldwide partner program
Altereo is building a partner program worldwide to contribute with HpO® to the high performance of water supply for present and future generations and serve the United Nations Global Goals. The French innovating company is opening the award-winning HpO® technology to selected engineering consultancies in every country looking to develop their local/regional market with exclusive added-value. The call for candidates is open until end of March 2020.
About Altereo
Altereo has been operating for 30 years in France and internationally in the fields of water and environment, public utility management, sustainable development of cities and territories and geographic intelligence solutions for these same fields. Present on 4 continents (Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania), Altereo is an independent group controlled by its founder chairman Christian Laplaud, its managing director, Gilles Brunschwig, its managers and IXO investment fund. With continuous growth, Altereo employs 180 persons today and has achieved an annual turnover of 15 M€ in 2019 and a 7% growth. To catalyse its development, the group relies on internationalisation and innovation with more than 5% of its annual turnover invested into R&D.
Creating the water network GIS for the city of Phnom Penh
Water Utility Management International
December 2015