Water company placing silver canisters next to external stop tap - what are they???

[RandomGrinch]

Hi,

A couple of water company workers have just been down our street, dropping silver canisters (about the size of a 500ml coke bottle) down the holes next to the external stop taps.
It seems they are only targeting those without a water meter.
Does anyone know what these are?
I'm guessing at it being a recording device (ultrasonic?), to monitor usage/find leaks on those properties without a meter?
I would be interestested to hear your thoughts!

Thank you

 

[Nige F]

I think you're right there . Our town has been metered for 35 or so years now. The whole lot was done @ once .

 

[RandomGrinch]

Surreptitious photo

Not quite as big as a cola bottle!

Edit:
A Google lens search of my own pic brought up a link to 'remote noise logging' equipment!
Big brother is listening to when I flush!
I guess I won't be filling the swimming pool tonight!

 

[Deleted member 267285]

I wonder if it’s a way of finding an underground leak?

 

[HERTS P&D]

I would be phoning your water company to ask them, what if they didn't put it in there?

Andy

 

[RandomGrinch]

I would be phoning your water company to ask them, what if they didn't put it in there?

Andy

Definitely the water company, I saw them place them at a number of stop taps down the road - and it was definitely a normal occurance for them; the devices were all hooked onto a 'Christmas tree' type hanger and they had a 'dropping off' tool. They could open the cover, and drop off the devices, all without bending down.

I wonder if it’s a way of finding an underground leak?

I suspect that's exactly what it's for.
They can already rule out the metered properties.
Or, someone's using a heck of a lot of water and isn't paying for it!

 

[dilalio]

I would still be asking them...specially if on my property.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Ok, I have sent the picture to a Thames water manager who I know and he told me it is "used to measure the flow or for a smart meter".

So look forward to bigger bills.

Andy

 

[Mike13]

They can work out the time of day you are using water, but without a calibrated orifice and pressure sensor they have no idea how much you are using.

 

[Dereekoo]

I would still be asking them...specially if on my property.

Its not on anyone's property?

 

[RandomGrinch]

Ok, I have sent the picture to a Thames water manager who I know and he told me it is "used to measure the flow or for a smart meter

Thanks Andy, your effort is above and beyond!

Its not on anyone's property?

No, our terrace fronts straight onto the street. Every stop tap is in the pavement.

 

[JBR]

They'd have a job on to do ours. Our stop tap is in the road, so they'd have to put barriers out 'cos it's a busy road.

 

[dilalio]

Its not on anyone's property?

Is that a question or a statement?

 

[SFK]

There are there for leak detection (and also I presume unexpected off meter use).
They are "Gutermann Zonescan NB-IoT acoustic correlating loggers".
The loggers use the LPWAN communication system.
All the sensors switch on at 2am and listen to the adjacent pipe for flow to provide an overview of the water flowing in system in an area. (With the presumption there should be no/little flow).
Full details here:
www.iot-now.com/2021/01/07/106889-leak-detection-innovation-is-in-the-pipeline/

The loggers
https://en.gutermann-water.com/product/zonescan-nb-iot-correlating-iot-leak-logger/

And LPWAN is here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-power_wide-area_network

 

[Dereekoo]

Is that a question or a statement?

Its a statement questioning your statement