TACKLE HIGH-IMPACT LEAKS.
Water utilities lose billions of gallons of water from aging distribution and transmission mains each day. Leaks on large-diameter pipelines have a big impact on water loss volumes. Even small leaks on these large pipes add up because they often go undetected for a long time. Eventually, leaks can result in costly pipe failures.
Leaks are a liability that undermine safe and reliable water service, especially in communities challenged by water scarcity. The financial impact of water loss is also significant, amounting to billions of dollars annually.
Fortunately, most water loss can be detected and reduced. Utilities can locate high-impact transmission main leaks without breaking ground or disrupting service. Inline leak detection is a valuable part of a condition assessment program that helps utilities safely and affordably manage their aging infrastructure.
REDUCE REAL WATER LOSSES.
Addressing leaks on critical transmission mains can prevent catastrophic failures and result in significant water savings — creating a high return on investment for utilities. However, traditional leak detection methods are less reliable on large-diameter pipes. Inline leak detection offers the greatest accuracy because the sensor is much closer to the source of the leak.
DON’T DIG DRY HOLES.
Guesswork is expensive — especially on critical transmission mains that serve so many customers. Knowing a leak’s magnitude and its precise location before you dig improves the efficiency of repairs. It reduces shutdown times and limits excavation. This saves money and prevents unnecessary disruption to the water supply and to busy streets.
GO BEYOND WATER LOSS.
Inline leak detection is a cost-effective way to screen transmission mains for red flags. Today’s leaks can become future failures. Gas pockets can disrupt flow and lead to force main corrosion. An initial screening helps utilities prioritize pipelines for repair or further investigation.
THE HARD-TO-FIND LEAK LOCATORS.
Leaks aren’t always obvious. Even when the signs of a leak surface, it can be difficult to locate the source. Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand excels at detecting and locating hard-to-find leaks on critical pipelines. Our industry-leading inline leak detection tools can find even pinhole-sized leaks on large-diameter mains. Our experienced team has completed thousands of successful leak inspections for utilities around the world. We have inspected more than 11,500 miles (18,550 km) of pipeline and found over 8,600 leaks, saving millions of gallons of water. We bring together innovative tools and professional inspection delivery with top-notch data analysis to help utilities make the best possible pipeline management decisions. For a comprehensive assessment of pipeline health, we combine leak detection with pipe wall inspection, valve assessment, and advanced analysis.
WATER SAVINGS + CONDITION INSIGHTS.
The benefits of leak detection go far beyond reducing real water loss. Locating and addressing leaks saves money, energy, and other resources used to treat and distribute water. Repairing or replacing a leaking pipe within a transmission main could avert a costly failure or contamination event. Utilities also gain valuable condition insights from an inline leak inspection. Pinpointing problem areas helps utilities proactively manage their pipelines.
WHY USE INLINE LEAK DETECTION?
- Find high-impact transmission main leaks without service interruptions
- Improve repair efficiency with precise leak location
- Reduce real water losses and other waste created by leaks
- Prevent catastrophic pipe failures
- Save money
- Avoid unnecessary rate increases and boost public confidence in the utility
- Screen the pipeline for problem areas and early signs of failure
- Identify gas pockets that impact flow and lead to force main corrosion
- Map pipeline networks and confirm the location of buried assets
- Pair with additional assessment services to gain a comprehensive understanding of pipeline condition
LOW EFFORT, HIGH CONFIDENCE LEAK DETECTION.
Pure Technologies’ inline leak and gas pocket detection tools help utilities make informed management decisions on a pipe-by-pipe basis. Our SmartBall® and Sahara® platforms collect precise, actionable data while minimizing the operational effort required by utilities. Both tools inspect pipelines of any material, without disrupting service, and they are easily deployed through existing features and hydrants. Together, these tools give utilities more flexibility to reduce real water loss and address problem areas before they result in larger failures.
SAHARA PLATFORM
The tethered Sahara platform is ideal for complex water pipeline networks. The platform pinpoints leaks and air pockets, collects live video, and maps pipelines in a single deployment. With close control of the tool, operators can locate defects with high precision and mark their location above-ground in real time.
SMARTBALL PLATFORM
The free-swimming SmartBall platform detects very small leaks and gas pockets and maps transmission mains and force mains. The tool travels with the product flow and collects pipeline condition data for up to 24 hours. Operators actively track the tool throughout the inspection for the most accurate data analysis.
