Chutian Metropolis Daily Jimu News Report (Reporter Pan Xiheng, Correspondent Li Miaomiao) – Suspected hidden leaks in water supply pipelines were difficult to pinpoint with traditional methods. Wuhan Water Group Hankou Water Supply Branch utilized advanced pipeline “endoscopic robots” and, after weeks of continuous efforts, successfully completed endoscopic inspection of the internal water supply pipelines at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Ultimately, 3 leak points in the pipelines were accurately identified, estimating a daily water loss reduction of over 2,000 tons. After timely repairs, the monthly economic loss can be reduced by more than 127,000 yuan.
In July this year, staff at Wuhan Tianhe Airport discovered a significant leak in a section of 50-centimeter-diameter underground pipeline from the Songjiagang Pumping Station to the Airport South Waterworks within the airport. This caused potential safety hazards and economic losses, prompting them to seek assistance from Wuhan Water Group’s equipment and technology for pipeline leak detection.
After preliminary research and demonstration, technical personnel from the Konggang New City Business Office of Wuhan Water Group Hankou Water Supply Company found that due to the complex environment of the pipeline—with parts buried as deep as 6 to 7
Tianhe Airport Water Supply Pipeline “Endoscopy” Precisely Locates 3 Leak Points, Saving Over 120,000 Yuan Monthly After Repair
Chutian Metropolis Daily Jimu News Report (Reporter Pan Xiheng, Correspondent Li Miaomiao) – Suspected hidden leaks in water supply pipelines were difficult to pinpoint with traditional methods. Wuhan Water Group Hankou Water Supply Branch utilized advanced pipeline “endoscopic robots” and, after weeks of continuous efforts, successfully completed endoscopic inspection of the internal water supply pipelines at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Ultimately, 3 leak points in the pipelines were accurately identified, estimating a daily water loss reduction of over 2,000 tons. After timely repairs, the monthly economic loss can be reduced by more than 127,000 yuan.
In July this year, staff at Wuhan Tianhe Airport discovered a significant leak in a section of 50-centimeter-diameter underground pipeline from the Songjiagang Pumping Station to the Airport South Waterworks within the airport. This caused potential safety hazards and economic losses, prompting them to seek assistance from Wuhan Water Group’s equipment and technology for pipeline leak detection.
After preliminary research and demonstration, technical personnel from the Konggang New City Business Office of Wuhan Water Group Hankou Water Supply Company found that due to the complex environment of the pipeline—with parts buried as deep as 6 to 7 meters underground—traditional leak-detection methods such as acoustic listening were ineffective for precise localization. They thus decided to adopt water supply pipeline endoscopy technology to perform an “endoscopic operation” on this approximately 2.3-kilometer-long pipeline.
Xiong Shenghua, Director of the Konggang New City Business Office, explained that pipeline endoscopy is an emerging technology developed in recent years. It boasts high detection accuracy and no need for water shutdown during operations, among other advantages. Having been widely applied by Hankou Water Supply Branch, it has played a crucial role in reducing pipeline network leakage, accumulated rich practical experience, and stands as an important representative of new quality productive forces in the water sector. The “endoscopic robot,” shaped like an umbrella and approximately 0.6 meters long, is deployed into the pipeline through an opening. Propelled by the water flow inside, the robot moves downstream, integrating acoustic principles and intelligent image sensing to accurately capture water leakage sound waves and images, enabling efficient leak point localization.
To address challenges such as the unknown pipeline route and lack of precise completion drawings, technical personnel from Hankou Water Supply Branch conducted detailed on-site surveys and measurements under extreme heat, gradually improving the basic pipeline data and formulating a comprehensive endoscopic leak detection plan. Xu Ji, Deputy Director of the Konggang New City Business Office, noted that during implementation, some deployment points were 6-7 meters deep and located in dense jungles, making it impossible for large mechanical equipment to access, which significantly increased operational difficulty. When retrieving the “endoscopic robot,” frequent bends in the pipeline caused jams, requiring technical personnel to use a combination of manual and mechanical methods for extraction. After overcoming a series of obstacles, in late August, Hankou Water Supply Branch completed endoscopic inspection of the 2.3-kilometer pipeline in 5 sections. Through data collection and analysis of internal pipeline camera footage and ultrasonic signals, 3 leak points were successfully identified, with an estimated daily water loss of over 2,000 tons.
A relevant person in charge of Wuhan Tianhe Airport stated: “Hankou Water Supply Branch’s advanced pipeline endoscopy technology not only helped us reduce water leakage but also gained valuable time for subsequent pipeline emergency repairs. We are extremely grateful.” It is understood that endoscopic leak detection laid a solid foundation for later repair work. Currently, the pipeline leaks have been fully repaired, resulting in a monthly economic loss reduction of 127,000 yuan.