Leakages and pressure relations: an experimental research

Leaks in water systems are presently a frequent and increasing event that involves cost increase and poor service, not compliant to quality standards and modern management criteria. The most recent data available in Italy, resumed into the report issued by Control Committee for Water Resources Use (CONVIRI), shows leakages with an average value of 37%. It is important, for maintenance perspective, to investigate occurrence and evolution of water leaks and the analytical links between leaks Qp and network pressure P, for a reliable calibration of water networks quali-quantitative simulation models. The present work reports the results of an experimental campaign started at Laboratory of Hydraulic of Department of Hydraulic, Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering of University of Naples Federico II in order to analyze the features of Qp (P) relation, which are compared with principal results issued in literature.