New Method for Leakage Detection by Using Artificial Neural Networks

Nowadays water loss has been turned into a global concern and on the other hand the demand for water is increasing. This problem has made the demand management and consumption pattern reform necessary. One of the most important methods for managing water consumption is to decrease the water loss. In this study by using neural networks, a new method is presented to specify the location and quantity of leakages in water distribution networks. In this method, by producing the training data and applying it to neural network, the network is able to determine approximate location and quantity of nodal leakage with receiving the nodal pressure. Production of training data is carried out by applying assumed leakage to specific nodes in the network and calculating the new nodal pressures. The results show that by minimum use of hydraulic data taken from pressures, not only this method can determine the location of nodal leakages, but also it can specify the amount of leakage on each node with reasonable accuracy.