Water flow analysis

Abstract

A location () is including an installation () associated with a site (). At the site () is a house. A water main () forms part of a water distribution network and is buried approximately 1 m below the surface () of a road. A ferrule () extends from an upper part of the water main pipe and is in fluid communication with a first portion () of a service pipe at depth of typically approximately 0.75 m and which extends from the water main () to underneath a pavement (). An outside stop-tap or meter chamber () is provided below pavement () and includes a pilotable cover (), which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the chamber (). A first connector () is provided on an upstream side of the chamber and a second connector () is provided on a downstream side of the chamber. A stop-tap or stop-tap and meter assembly () is provided within the chamber and in fluidic communication with the first and second connectors. An insulating member (), for example in the form of a piece of polystyrene, extends across the interior of the chamber () and acts to insulate the lower part of the chamber from the environment above. A temperature logging device () is located on the insulating member () and includes a first temperature sensor (). Optionally the temperature logging device may also include a second temperature sensor (). The temperature of a part of a water supply system between a water main () and the site is recorded as a function of time. The recorded temperature as a function of time is analysed to determine a property indicative of the water consumption at the site.