Leak Detection Process
Our Leak Detection Surveys Are Performed by Following an 7-Step Process
Our Leak Detection Surveys Are Performed by Following an 7-Step Process
- Review old as-builts and interview facilities personnel regarding whereabouts of underground water lines and the potential leak.
- Perform an initial on-site consultation with the client to determine the scope of work and find out where they think the leak might be located.
- Visually inspect the site for one or more of the following clues:
- Wet spots in landscaped areas and/or water pooling on the ground surface.
- An area that is green, moldy, soft, or mossy surrounded by drier conditions.
- A noticeable drop in water pressure or flow volume.
- A sudden problem with rusty water or dirt or air in the water supply (there are other causes for this besides a leak).
- A portion of an irrigated area is suddenly brown, dead, or dying, when it used to be thriving (water pressure is too low to enable distant heads to pop up properly)
- Heaving or cracking of asphalt areas.
- Sink holes or potholes.
- Uneven floor grade or leaning of a structure.
- Unexplained sudden increase in water use, consistently high water use, or water use that has been climbing at a fairly steady rate for several billing cycles.
- Mark the location and depth of the water line or lines in question, using blue paint and/or flags.
- Conduct a leak detection survey, usually by progressing in the following order:
- Acoustic Ground Microphone Survey - Scan across the entire length of the line ground using a ground microphone and listen for the spot where there is audible evidence of the leak.
- Acoustic Correlating Logger Survey - Place a correlating logger at each end of the line, Points A and B, from a building, shut off valve, pit, or hydrant. Run a couple of sound readings to listen for audible evidence of the leak, and if there is a leak, its distance from both points will be displayed on a laptop, enabling us to measure to this spot in the field.
- Helium Gas Detection Survey - Shut off the water service, drain the line, isolate it, and blow an Helium-air mixture into it using an air compressor, and scan across the entire length of the line using a Helium detector to search for the spot where the gas escapes.
- Mark the location of the underground water leak or leaks with pink paint and/or flags.
- Perform a final on-site consultation with the client to explain the results of the survey, including a thorough explanation of any limitations or areas of concern.
