Reducing Leakage through Sympathetic Valve Control

Reducing leakage is one of the biggest operational challenges facing the UK water industry. In England alone, water companies reported leakage of 2,617 million litres per day in 2024/25 - around 19% of water put into supply. Ofwat has set companies in England and Wales targets representing a further 17% reduction in leakage between 2024/25 and 2029/30.

Finding and repairing leaks remains essential, but reducing unnecessary stresses on the network also has a role to play. One approach is sympathetic valve control using variable speed electric actuators.

Changes in flow caused by pumps and valves can generate pressure transients within distribution networks. A conventional fixed-speed electric actuator operates at a predetermined speed, whereas variable speed actuation enables valve movement to be adapted to process requirements. Instead of opening or closing at one speed throughout its travel, a valve can be operated more gradually during critical parts of the cycle.

Colin Borrows, UK Head of Sales, AUMA Actuators Limited, says: “Sympathetic control gives engineers much greater control over how a valve moves. Using variable speed actuation to manage opening and closing more carefully can help reduce sudden changes in flow and pressure and mitigate the risk of damaging pressure transients. It is one of the tools water companies can use as part of a wider approach to pressure management, leakage reduction and asset protection.”

There is established industry evidence behind this approach. Water UK’s Leakage Routemap to 2050 identifies pressure as a factor influencing leakage and notes that higher pressures and pressure surges can contribute to leakage over time. Ofwat similarly identifies pressure management alongside pipe condition and network characteristics as factors affecting leakage.

AUMA’s variable speed electric actuator technology enables operating speed to be adapted during valve movement. Its SAV and SARV ranges provide variable speed solutions for larger applications, while compact PROFOX actuators bring the technology to smaller valves. SARV actuators provide soft start and stop functionality and allow speed profiles to be configured to help avoid pressure surges.

Variable speed actuation does not itself prevent leakage or eliminate water hammer. Instead, it gives engineers greater control over how quickly a valve changes flow through the network.

There is no single solution to leakage. But sympathetic valve control changes the question from simply “Can we open and close this valve?” to “How should we open and close it?” Used as part of a properly engineered pressure-management strategy, variable speed electric actuation can help mitigate pressure transients, protect infrastructure and contribute to calmer, more resilient networks.

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