The SCRD is considering the purchase and testing of a high-tech device called a leak correlator, which uses microphones to identify leaks in watermains.
“A segment of main is evaluated between two microphones that are attached to a hydrant, valve or other access point,” district staff explained in a report to the SCRD’s Dec. 17 infrastructure committee. The report said a leak correlator would perform the same function as the geophones currently used by staff, but “are more sensitive and more efficient in certain applications.”
Water leaks in mains aren’t usually noticed by staff or reported by area residents until they lead to a noticeable pooling of water, the report noted. Smaller leaks or leaks on sand or fractured bedrock where water can flow downwards may not be noticed but could be detected with the new technology.
The device would allow for the inspection for leaks of all watermains once a year, the report added. “A two-person crew could theoretically inspect most of the SCRD’s 400 kilometres of watermains in half a year,” it said.
Staff recommended that a leak correlator be assessed for one year to see how well it helps identify leaks in the regional district’s aging water infrastructure. The device costs $40,000, and staff costs are estimated at another $150,000. The committee passed a motion that recommended the idea be taken up in the 2021 budget process for consideration.
