Controlling water loss due to leakage is crucial to maintaining the sustainability of water supply. Mains renewal is one method of reducing leakage; however as water companies renew their distribution network, the percentage of plastic pipes within the system is steadily rising. Although plastic pipes have fewer leaks than metallic pipes, finding these leaks is significantly more difficult. The noise generated by a leaking plastic pipe is rapidly attenuated taking up to five times longer to accurately locate the leak. As plastic pipes have become more prevalent in the UK, the incidence of leakage on these ageing pipes has also increased.
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