Professor Angus Simpson

The impact to hang on to every drop.

When pipes burst, precious water is wasted. Based on research by Professor Angus Simpson at the University of Adelaide, there are better ways to have an impact on dramatic pipe failures.

Water is life. But delivery infrastructure is rapidly ageing and is prone to failure - sometimes dramatic. It is a global problem with many countries losing up to 35% through water leakage.

“When water pipes burst, the wastage is very visible. However blockages, minor leaks and valve malfunctions occur every day. And water is wasted without detection.”

The University of Adelaide has created a Water Research Cluster that brings together researchers in engineering, science, economics, irrigation science and architecture. This Cluster has created a much greater focus on integrated water research within the University to solve practical problems for the community, government and industry.

Professor Angus Simpson and his team in the School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering at the University of Adelaide have found a way to find leaks and identify pipe weakness before trouble occurs.

“We can very quickly find leaks and bursts using computerised water hammer techniques. In addition, we’ve replaced invasive and expensive cameras with inverse transient techniques, based on 10 years' research. We listen to what the pipes tell us and that gives us an extremely detailed image of the pipe’s condition.

“Droughts bring water conservation to the forefront. However the delivery of fresh water is a global problem. We’re making sure there’s water in every tap each time it’s turned on.”

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