Municipal Water Main Infrastructure

From finding a single leak on a transmission main to multi-year condition assessment programs that become a critical source of information for utility CIP optimization, Echologics is providing utilities with a new generation of user-friendly solutions.

Echologics smart technologies enable water utilities to better understand and manage buried pipeline infrastructure. ePulse® technology is the industry’s first solution that can identify the condition of both distribution and transmission mains, while simultaneously searching for leaks, all without the need for service disruption.

Based on the experience gained from surveying thousands of miles of pipeline, Echologics developed a new generation of permanent leak monitoring technologies for distribution and transmission mains. These new smart technologies alert a utility to the early formation of a leak and enable informed decision making to minimize repair cost, infrastructure damage and water loss.

Listen to an audio podcast about ePulse condition assessment.

Listen to an audio podcast about permanent leak detection.

Typical Applications

Capital improvement plan optimization
Proactive asset management programs
Pipeline condition assessment
System wide leak detection programs
Transmission main leak monitoring
Water main monitoring during construction
Pre and post construction services
Non-revenue water loss solutions
Emergency inspections after natural disasters

Solutions

Pipeline Condition Assessment: Buried pipe infrastructure can be inspected and graded for structural strength to help optimize rehabilitation or replacement programs.

Transmission Main Monitoring: For critical water supply lines with a lack of redundancy or history of breaks, Echologics can install a highly accurate and permanent leak detection system that can help ensure the continuous and uninterrupted supply of water. Additional monitoring sensors can be added which include temperature, pressure and other water quality parameters.

Leak Detection: Highly trained Echologics field engineers can quickly mobilize to identify a leak on virtually any material or diameter of water main including PVC and other plastic pipe materials.

Remaining Pipe Life Estimation: As a value-added decision making tool, data from a condition assessment project along with additional structural and environmental inputs can be uploaded to the Echologics Remaining Service Life calculation tool to better visualize and prioritize pipe replacement needs.

Projects

WSSC extends its contract with Echologics
Echologics will continue to use its ePulse technology to deliver pipeline condition assessment services for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). Echologics has assessed more than 100 miles of WSSC's water pipeline since 2013. The extension will enable WSSC to assess many more miles of pipe in its water distribution network.

Simplifying leak detection in Michigan
A large city in Michigan selected Echologics to assess approximately 600 miles of 4"–36" metallic water mains, some that are more than 100 years old. With the objective of reducing leakage, Echologics field engineers deployed the new EchoShore®-M leak detection technology. The new platform enables field technicians to inspect more pipeline in less time with greater accuracy. The EchoShore®-M technology is ideal for high priority pipelines such as river, railway, and highway crossings, as it can monitor the desired section of pipe from just a few hours or a few days to provide greater leak signal resolution.

Fixed Monitoring Platform Identifies Transmission Main Leak
In Southeast Asia, an EchoShore®-TX technology installation on a 28" steel main running alongside a major 4- lane highway identified a leak early in its formation. The acoustic monitoring nodes initially captured a faint noise anomaly within the main, and Echologics' leak detection engineers were able to monitor its steady progression. Local utility crews were notified of the presence of the leak, and quickly responded and verified that a valve was steadily leaking water and had begun to fail. The leak was discovered and repaired while it was still small, demonstrating the sensitivity and accuracy of the EchoShore-TX technology.

Transmission Main Monitoring in Nevada
The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) installed the EchoShore®-TX leak detection platform to monitor a 30-inch transmission main for the development of leaks. The main was installed in the 1960s and supplies up to 7.5 million gallons of water per day to resorts, casinos, and attractions along the Las Vegas Strip. The monitoring platform was installed and commissioned in just over two weeks, with no service interruptions or impact to street traffic. EchoShore-TX platform combines proven acoustic leak detection technology with leading-edge wireless connectivity and visual end-user dashboards to create a cost-effective monitoring solution.

Condition Assessment for Distribution Mains
In Western Canada, a utility was experiencing an increased number of water main leaks and breaks within a specific section of its distribution system comprised mainly of asbestos cement and cast iron pipe. To help prioritize replacement, the city turned to ePulse® condition assessment technology to inspect two sections of 6-inch pipe. The testing identified pipe-wall deterioration from nominal thicknesses, and the utility validated the results via spot excavations.

Municipalities

Municipal Water Main Infrastructure

Typical Applications

Solutions

Projects

We’re Here to Help.

Subscribe to Mueller Innovation News

Search form

Municipalities

Municipal Water Main Infrastructure

Typical Applications

Solutions

Projects

We’re Here to Help.