Water leak detection is an essential part of asset management & maintenance. By regularly surveying your buried pipe work, you can identify problems early and prevent major expense and/or damage.
Key Benefits
- Save Water - Save Money!
- Avoid costly water damage
- Environmentally responsible
Capabilities
We have extensive experience in the field of leak detection. In addition, modern technology has allowed great advances and Edenbros has the latest equipment, including:
- Dedicated Leak Noise Correlator (LNC)
- A system comprising a handheld device able to receive 'leak noise' from 2 sensors/transmitter stations and carry out advanced digital signal processing (DSP) in order to identify leak positions on buried pipes.
- These systems work very well on standard, small diameter metallic water mains and service pipes but have problems with long distances and/or large diameters and/or plastic pipes.
- Laptop Based Leak Noise Correlator
- Similar to the dedicated system, but a receiver station communicates with the sensor/transmitter stations and feeds the signals into a laptop. Advanced software allows greater analysis of the sound received from the sensors and has shown to be effective on large diameter and non-metallic pipes.
- The laptop systems work well on most pipes, especially when used with hydrophones.
- Highly Sensitive Hydrophones
- Standard correlator systems utilize sensitive piezo-electric sensors called Accelerometers. These sensors measure the vibration on the pipe itself via magnetic attachment to valves, fire hydrants etc. However, most of the leak energy is within the water column. Hydrophones are attached to a charged fire hydrant or tapping point, allowing the sensor to be in direct contact with the water. This means that smaller sounds can be detected over longer distances. Also, non-metallic pipes do not transmit sound as well as metallic pipes and direct sensing in the water column greatly improves leak detection on these pipes.
- Hydrophones are the only real choice for long distances, large diameters and plastic water mains.
- Advanced Leak Listener
- Once the correlator has indicated the position of the suspected leak, a leak listener is used to obtain local confirmation. This is done by 'listening' on the ground above the buried pipe with a very sensitive microphone. Experienced leakage engineers are able to detect characteristic leak noise in this manner and therefore confirm the leak location.
- Leak listeners have a good frequency range (typically 0Hz to 10,000Hz) and can be used to listen directly on mains & services as well as on the ground. Professional instruments have flexible filtering and hearing protection built in. They also have insulated sensors to provide shielding from background noise such as traffic, wind etc.
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- Sometimes, non-metallic pipes are very difficult to locate. Additionally, as leak noise doesn't travel well on these pipes, it is sometime impossible to locate leakage. A GPR radiates radio signals down into the ground and then detects the reflections from any buried objects. Experienced operators can interpret these reflections and identify both pipes and leaks.
- GPR is greatly affected by soil conditions and cannot be expected to work in all conditions. However, it can be an invaluable tool, providing results when other equipment fails.
- Gas Injection & Detection (GID)
- Sometimes leaks can be very small and in positions that are extremely difficult to locate. E.g. weeping joints, bolts etc. In these cases, a harmless gas (5% Hydrogen & 95% Nitrogen mix) is injected in to the pipe and then 'sniffed' above ground using a sensitive hydrogen sensor. Hydrogen is the lightest of gases and will easily rise through soil, concrete etc and be detected above the leak position. As hydrogen is not naturally found in the environment, even the smallest leaks can be located.
GID is a very useful tool when working with small diameter pipes over short distances. However, the quantity of gas required can become a problem on larger pipes, especially when they are 'live' and the flow carries most of the gas away from the leak site. Nonetheless, for very difficult to locate leaks, it can sometimes be the only answer.
We provide the gas regulator to limit gas pressure into the pipe or duct to 100psi max. We can also measure the volume of gas used.
Pricing
Prices vary according to the nature of the work and equipment deployed, but generally involve:
- Call Out Charge covering a 3-hr minimum
- Hourly Rate over 3-hrs
- Cost of consumables such as gas mixtures etc
Call today for a free estimate !!!