Leak detection & repair
Water leaks, if undetected, cost companies through water consumption charges, reduced water pressure, material damage and if in a sensitive area loss of business/production. A moderate leak (1 litre per second) on the mains would add approximately £55,000 on an annual bill.
Leaks can exist underground for years without being detected and frequently where water is seen breaking the surface is not where the pipe is actually leaking. Our highly skilled team of leak detection engineers can pinpoint water leaks precisely, ensuring that the leak repair can be carried out in the shortest time possible, reducing the cost of the repair to the client and with minimal disruption to the site.
As part of a site survey, a comprehensive water leak detection & location regime is deployed.
- All mains water supplies are mapped & zones established
- Flow rate & average daily usage is recorded
- Flow & pressure tests are conducted
- Sounding techniques are deployed with acoustic correlation & ground microphones to pinpoint the leak location.
No disruption to the water mains or site operations occurs during the survey. Different techniques are employed to first narrow the search for the leak into a zone then pinpoint the leak, typically to less than half-metre. Some of the techniques employed are described below:
Pipe tracing: Often uses a radio signal transmitted through the pipe network and picked up by detectors to accurately map layout of the water distribution.
Step testing: Water flow is monitored through a flow meter then the gate valve is shut on the pipe network, if the flow significantly reduces the leak is likely to be after the closed valve.
Sounding: Experienced engineers use a 'sounding stick' to listen for variations in sound through the pipe network. More technically advanced acoustic systems are also available if needed but in practice our engineers find the traditional method combined with their expertise often outperforms these systems.
Correlation: Loggers are deployed at multiple points on the pipe network. The loggers record the sound of the pipes. Because the noise of a leak is always constant the software can pick it out by comparing the sound profiles from all the loggers. If the sound isn't present on all the loggers then it is due to normal water use. Correlation is particularly good at detecting multiple leaks in a pipe network.
Water leak repair
Once Waterscan have precisely located the leak our civil engineering crews can then carry out the necessary repair. This work could include:
- Repair/replacement of external water supplies
- Mapping
- Reinstatement of all surface types
