Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has reported significant savings of AED 12 million in 2024, thanks to its use of Smart Ball technology, which effectively detects leaks in underground pipelines. This innovative system has prevented the loss of 1.34 million cubic meters of water, addressing issues that traditional detection methods often miss. Since its implementation in April 2021, Smart Ball technology has identified 180 leaks within Dubai’s water transmission network.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, emphasized the alignment of this initiative with the Dubai Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy 2030. He highlighted DEWA’s commitment to adopting new technologies and smart systems to enhance the efficiency and reliability of water networks. Al Tayer noted that these efforts have led to DEWA achieving remarkable reductions in water losses, with figures in 2024 dropping to just 4.5%, surpassing many leading companies in Europe and America.

Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water & Civil at DEWA, pointed out that the organization has developed innovative automated systems for continuous network monitoring. He mentioned that DEWA utilizes a smart grid to create advanced infrastructure for facility and service management, incorporating disruptive technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Smart Ball system features a small sphere equipped with a sensitive acoustic sensor, which is inserted into water pipelines. The ball travels with the water flow and detects sounds indicating leaks, gas pockets, or other anomalies. After the Smart Ball is removed, the gathered data is processed by specialized software, which uses mathematical algorithms to pinpoint the exact locations of leaks and anomalies. The Smart Ball can travel at approximately three kilometers per hour, allowing it to inspect over 35 kilometers of pipeline in a single day without disrupting water flow.