Listening At Low Frequency Key To Locating Leaks In Plastic Water Pipes
Water loss is a costly problem for utilities. Indeed, it accounts for 20 to 30 percent of production.
Recently completed research at IRC, which was jointly funded by NRC and the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, will help water utilities worldwide to locate leaks in plastic water-distribution pipes. Water utilities typically use acoustic detection equipment to locate leaks. Although this equipment is generally satisfactory for metal pipes, its effectiveness for plastic pipes was not known.