Advanced Acoustic Inspection of a Strategic Drinking Water Transmission Main in A Coruña, Spain
Executive Summary
In June 2025, Aganova carried out a high-precision internal audit of 3.5 km of a drinking water transmission main along the Almeiras – Monte Mero section (DN1200, ductile iron), operated by EMALCSA (A Coruña Municipal Water Company).
This pipeline represents a strategic asset within the city’s transmission network. Its assessment posed technical challenges due to its large diameter and limited accessibility in the surrounding environment.
To perform this verification, Aganova deployed its in-line acoustic inspection technology, Nautilus, a non-invasive system capable of detecting hidden leaks, identifying anomalies, and generating detailed hydraulic profiles without interrupting service.
The inspection confirmed the excellent overall condition of the pipeline, identifying only one significant incident:
- 1 high-severity leak (F1) with an estimated loss between 11.38 and 27.93 m³/h
The intervention provided EMALCSA with an objective technical certification of the asset’s actual condition, enabling the prioritisation of a single corrective action and optimisation of maintenance resources.
Client
Section
Almeiras – Monte Mero (3.5 km)
Location
A Coruña, Spain
Date
June 26, 2025
Diameter
DN1200
Speed (m/s)
Min
Max
0.13
0.22
Pressure (bar)
Min
Max
0.40
6.34
Distance (m)
3,513
Introduction
EMALCSA is responsible for the integrated management of the urban water cycle in A Coruña, ensuring continuous, safe and high-quality water supply to the city and its metropolitan area.
Among its most strategic assets is the Almeiras – Monte Mero transmission main, a large-diameter pipeline that plays a critical role in drinking water transport.
As part of its preventive maintenance strategy and asset management optimisation plan, EMALCSA decided to conduct an advanced internal audit to verify both the structural and hydraulic condition of the pipeline using objective, high-precision data.
Challenge
The primary challenge was to assess a large-diameter transmission main located in an area with limited accessibility, where traditional external inspection methods cannot reliably confirm the presence of hidden leaks.
As a critical infrastructure asset, any intervention also had to:
- Be performed without service interruption
- Operate under real system conditions
- Deliver maximum precision in incident localisation
EMALCSA required a technological solution capable of providing verifiable insight into the internal condition of the pipeline, reducing uncertainty and enabling more effective long-term maintenance planning.
Solution and Implementation
Aganova deployed its Nautilus system, a 70-mm spherical device that travels inside the pipeline with neutral buoyancy, propelled by the natural flow of water.
During its journey, the system records high-sensitivity acoustic data, pressure measurements and motion and positioning parameters.
The collected data is subsequently processed using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, enabling highly accurate detection and georeferencing of incidents.
Inspection phases:
- Technical planning and coordination with EMALCSA’s team
- Installation of synchronisation points to ensure precise localisation
- Insertion of the Nautilus system without service interruption
- Navigation under real operating conditions with an approximate flow of 800 m³/h
- Retrieval of the device and advanced data analysis through the Nemo digital platform
The system inspected a total of 3,513 metres of pipeline.
The pipeline inspected had the following characteristics:
Pipeline
Characteristics
Location
A Coruña, Galicia (Spain)
Pipeline material
Ductile iron
Diameter
DN1200
Average water speed
0.18 m/s
Average pressure
3.7 bar
Inspected length
3,513 m
Inspected section
Insertion point
Extraction point
Results
Leaks
Incident Severity
F1
F2
F3
Total incidents
1
0
0
Air
Incident Severity
B1
B2
Total incidents
0
0
Anomalies
Incident Severity
A1
A2
Total incidents
0
0
Detected incident:
- F1 – High-severity leak
- Located between synchronisation points P Syn 03 and P Syn 04
- Estimated loss: 11.38 – 27.93 m³/h
- Classification: Priority repair
The Nemo platform additionally provided:
- A complete pressure profile of the pipeline
- Elevation profile
- Precise georeferencing of the detected incident
The absence of additional incidents confirms the overall sound condition of the infrastructure and validates the effectiveness of the maintenance practices implemented to date.
Conclusions
The internal audit performed with Nautilus enabled EMALCSA to obtain a reliable, objective and verifiable diagnosis of the condition of the Almeiras – Monte Mero transmission main.
The project not only identified a priority leak but also confirmed the excellent structural condition of the asset, delivering:
- Technical transparency
- Optimised maintenance resource allocation
- Reduction of water losses
- Enhanced strategic asset management
Through this intervention, EMALCSA can act in a targeted manner, minimising operational risks while reinforcing the efficiency of its transmission network.
This case further consolidates the use of intelligent diagnostic technologies as a key enabler for sustainable and resilient urban water management in Galicia.
Nautilus Intelligent Leak Detection System