Like many utilities, United Water New Jersey (UWNJ), a subsidiary of United Water, was concerned about being able to identify transmission and distribution main leaks. However, its field crews and an outside contractor were having difficulty accurately detecting and locating leaks in larger diameter water mains and sections of pipe that did not have available appurtenances. In an effort to improve water conservation and reduce non-revenue water, UWNJ began evaluating leak detection services with the ability to accurately isolate leaks in large diameter mains.
UWNJ selected Toronto-based Echologics Engineering for a Transmission Main Leak Detection pilot survey. The goal was to assess approximately five miles of water mains composed primarily of Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP), pre-stressed cylinder concrete (PCCP), and cast iron pipe (CIP).
A subsidiary of Mueller Water Products, Echologics is a developer of acoustic-based technologies for water loss management, leak detection, and pipe condition assessment. With proprietary sensor and signal conditioning technologies, the company’s system works on all pipes irrespective of diameter, geometry, material, etc. The system also has the ability to assess the structural condition of transmission mains, distribution pipelines, and force mains, including a unique solution for Asbestos Cement pipe.
For the UWNJ pilot, Echologics used acoustic sensors specifically developed for detecting leaks in large diameter mains. Where standard appurtenances are available, such as hydrants, air valves, or blow-off valves, the company’s hydrophones can be installed via any 1.5-inch isolation tap. These require direct contact with the water column and can be separated by wide distances on transmission mains, sometimes as much as 5,000 feet, and still remain effective.
