A trial of smart water leak detection devices has highlighted the risk homes in the South East face from aging loft storage tanks.
More than 700 homeowners in Kent, Hampshire and Sussex took part in a Southern Water trial of the Leakbot technology and 35 per cent received a leak or high usage alert, primarily related to issues with loft storage tanks.
One home was losing an astounding 720 litres of water every day – equal to more than seven full bathtubs.
Homes in the South East, an area with ‘hard water’ through high mineral levels, can be vulnerable to leaks due to limescale build-up, which can damage taps, toilets, pipes and appliances.
While water meters will show larger leaks, LeakBot measures air and water temperatures to detect losses as small as a teaspoon of water a minute.
The tech, which clips on to the mains water supply pipe, connects to the home wireless network and if it detects a leak, notifies users via an app, picking up problems at an early stage and cutting water damage claims by 70 per cent.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the trade body for the insurance industry, insurers pay out around £1.8 million every day to customers who have made ‘escape of water’ claims on their home insurance. Nearly one in five claims made on buildings and contents insurance is for damage caused by leaks.
The trial showed more than 4,000 litres of water being lost through faulty pipes and appliances every day. If these results were applied to every home in the Southern Water region this amounts to 5.8 mega litres of clean, treated water that could be saved every year.
The Leakbot trial is just one of the ways Southern Water is looking to tackle the issue of water scarcity and build a more resilient future. As well as committing to cut network leakage by 53 per cent by 2050, the company is also supporting households and businesses to reduce their water usage.
Phil Tapping, Water Network Demand Manager for Southern Water, says reducing household leaks benefits everyone.
He said: “No one wants to discover a leak through water flooding through their ceiling. Early detection helps homeowners avoid disruptive and costly water damage and could save our region up to 5.8 mega litres of water every year.
“Our region is already recognised as being water-stressed – we have less water per capita than Morocco – and it’s crucial we work together to address the enormous challenge we face through innovation, investment and collaboration with our communities and partners.”
