Measuring water lines with fibre optics

FibreSecurity’s mission is to use fibre optics to minimize the loss of good drinking water. Based in Haarlem, the Netherlands, the company’s engineers use this method to identify changes in the water and surrounding infrastructure at an early stage. The sensors in the system work with light. “As soon as light reflects at a different frequency, a measurement is taken”, says director Maja Rejger of FibreSecurity, which has been a Water Alliance member for some time. “Our software converts this data to show the customer where any leakage has occurred or is about to occur.”

The fibre optics system is suitable for cold and hot water, drinking and wastewater, district heating and sewage. The latter application is becoming increasingly important, in particular. “Sewer water evaporates during a heat wave, for example. This disturbs the ratio of water to feaces, which causes problems with purification. The flow is not fluid enough if there is not enough water.” According to the company, if the faeces harden, the pipes can rupture, causing a major public health hazard due to contamination.

FibreSecurity’s system is a sustainable, digital and innovative 24/7 passive monitoring system. “We can measure with a small sensor that would normally require a lot of different measuring equipment.” Rejger cites a project in Croatia as an example. FibreSecurity detects leaks in the drinking water system there. By monitoring the pipes, the company can measure where leaks will occur before they happen. “You can see the inside of the pipe change and detect problems like erosion early on. You can save costs by maintaining a tight focus. We also measure water quality, such as changes in composition, to get a clear idea of what is going on very quickly.”

FibreSecurity has mostly worked internationally so far. “We have an innovative product that is still not applied in the Netherlands. Our system is used in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and France. We hope the Netherlands also sees the benefits of measuring with fibre optics, even though the water infrastructure here is still quite new.”

Maja Rejger thinks the best part of the job is making the water even purer. “Water is incredibly important. This method means we lose as little good drinking water as possible while minimizing environmental pollution. It also enables companies to save costs and spend money on other things, which is an added bonus.”

Water Alliance membership completes the circle, according to Rejger. “We run into the Water Alliance frequently at all kinds of symposia. It is an interesting organization, and I believe in the power of collaboration. Together, you can complete the infrastructure. Therein lies the strength of the industry.”