International Journal of
Advanced Multidisciplinary Application

Volume 2, Issue 12

• Author(s)Gauri Maheshwari, Amey Chavan
• AffiliationJayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, India
• Page No.19-30
• Volume, Issue & YearVolume 2 Issue 12 , Dec-2025
• Published On2025/12/30
• JournalInternational Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Application (IJAMA)
• ISSN No.3048-9350
• DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17941511

Article Indexing

Abstract

especially in metropolitan and suburban areas of developing countries, where reg- ulatory frameworks are thin, and non-revenue water (NRW) losses incur hefty economic and social burdens. This study show-cases an unmanned, low-cost water monitoring system based on hydrophones that can detect illegal water withdrawals through the capture and classification of underwater sound emissions. The system employs a discrete JFET-based preamplifier with water flow pattern detection and classification signal processing to filter sound patterns and determine whether the activities related to the flow are legal or illegal using pipe dimensions and flow rates. Engagement in a primary community survey revealed strong public perception towards the importance of fair regulation, combined with a notable intention-action gap with regards to reporting violations, which underscores the case for passive, automated detection systems. Controlled experimental trials estimating detection accuracy showed above 90% ac- curacy, classification of violations based on severity allowed for the structure of proportional punitive responses. The 10-node deployment’s financial model indicated a conservative es- timate of rupees 1.21 crore in net benefit, a 15.2× ROI, and a payback period of under one month. These results stemmed from an analysis carried out under base scenario assumptions. The system’s OPEX of rupees 72,000/year is remarkably lower than the operating costs as- sociated with SCADA retrofit systems, making adoption by municipalities more financially feasible. Recommendations focus on essential enforcement and tiered fines, equitable revenue recycling, enforcement through public transparency, and trust building dashboards. The analy- sis demonstrates that combining acoustic detection with certain economic policies dramatically improve NRW loss mitigation, enforcement efficiency, and water conservation while shielding compliant households from financial penalties.

Keywords: water extraction, hydrophone, demand and supply curve, policy implementation.

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