ECHOSHORE®-M SELECTED FOR LARGE-SCALE NON REVENUE WATER PROJECT
Ranhill Water Services (RWS) has selected Echologics' EchoShore®-M leak detection technology. Echologics will train RWS field staff on the use of the technology, which includes connecting to the transmission main, data capture and analysis for the presence of leaks. The non-invasive approach enables water companies to inspect greater distances of pipe with less risk and in less time, as the need for extensive site pre-planning for tool insertion and extraction is eliminated. The EchoShore-M technology is being used in Southeast Asia and North America by other leading water companies with great success – having located more than 100 leaks on critical transmission mains in just the past 7 months.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STAYS ON TRACK
In the Northeast region of the United States, Echologics performed pre-construction transmission main leak detection as part of a bridge on-ramp construction project. This is a four-lane, high-traffic area connecting two major cities over a river. Echologics engineers used advanced correlator technology to survey two 36" cast iron transmission mains, over a combined length of 1,300 feet. Both mains run along the Bridge abutment construction site. Pre- and post-inspections of transmission mains help to assure utilities that their assets are not compromised during construction. If permanent monitoring of a critical line is required, the EchoShore®-TX solution can also be quickly installed and provide immediate notification of the formation of leaks.
WATER MAIN INSPECTION PRIOR TO CAMPUS EXPANSION
Echologics recently completed an inspection of just under 6,000 feet of ductile iron pipe ranging in diameter from 6 to 12" on an expanding college campus. The inspection determined the remaining average wall thickness of segments of the water main and assigned a grade of good, moderate or poor condition to each segment. The project consulting engineer used the information to help determine the replacement needs of the buried water pipe infrastructure. Once completed, the newly expanded campus will provide learning opportunities for more than 5,000 full-time students.
LEAK LOCATED AT FEDERAL CORRECTIONS FACILITY
Operations staff at a large-scale corrections facility in Ontario, Canada had been plagued by a leak in its water distribution network for several months. After multiple attempts to isolate and locate the leak, as well as an unsuccessful excavation of a suspected leak location, the facility staff turned to Echologics. Working under the close supervision of the facility operations staff, Echologics engineers quickly pinpointed the location of the leak near a parking lot several hundred feet away from the previous excavation.
PVC PIPE NOT THE SOURCE OF A LEAK
Echologics field engineers recently completed a deployment leak detection project just outside the gates of a major nuclear power generation facility. Facility engineers had noticed water in a utility chamber, as well as what seemed like soil erosion near a railway track. A targeted leak inspection of just over 2,000 feet of 12" PVC mains used for potable water supply and fire protection was conducted. Using a correlator technology specifically designed for use with plastic water mains, Echologics engineers quickly confirmed that the leak was not in the area of concern.
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 one-year extension, which is worth up to $2 million, will allow WSSC to assess even more miles of pipe in its water distribution network. A second one-year extension is available to WSSC as part of the original agreement.
"WSSC is a recognized leader in proactively managing its water infrastructure, and we are proud of the confidence they have expressed in our ability to help them reduce water loss,” said Marc Bracken, vice president and general manager of Echologics. "We look forward to helping WSSC continue to better assess and manage the remaining service life of its water infrastructure assets.”
ECHOLOGICS OPENS INNOVATION SITE TO ADVANCE SMART WATER TECHNOLOGY
More than 100 guests and dignitaries from across North America joined Echologics to celebrate the opening of its new innovation site dedicated to testing “smart” solutions for leak detection and pipe condition assessment. The investment represents a significant commitment to addressing the growing challenge of aging water main infrastructure.
The site, which is located in Walkerton, Ontario, will allow Echologics’ engineers to test new solutions, showcase capabilities for visiting water utilities and other customers, and provide operators with hands-on training experiences.
FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS:
- The site features real life applications for water infrastructure technology, including more than 2,000 feet of plastic and metallic water mains with diameters ranging from 6" to 16".
- It also includes a pump house that creates and maintains pressure conditions commonly found in municipal and industrial facilities and settings.
- Water network connections at the site are provided by Mueller and include fire hydrants, resilient wedge gate valves, automatic flushing systems and service connection.
- The site is designed to enable field teams and operators to gain considerable experience with field assets, leak detection scenarios and pipeline condition assessment technologies under controlled conditions.
PIPELINE MONITORING INSTALLATION OPTIONS
The EchoShore®-TX monitoring platform offers several unique advantages, including rapid installation and commissioning. At the core of the platform is a node that contains a battery box and an acoustics/software box, both of which can be installed onto a wall space of approximately 1' high by 2' wide, with appropriate space to access and service the nodes from the front panel. External power supply is not required, and water operations are not impacted during installation. The images above show a variety of installation options – existing chamber (top left), purpose built access (top right), above ground utility box (bottom left), direct to pipe (bottom right). Due to this versatility, a 3-mile EchoShore®-TX monitoring system was recently installed and operational in just over 2 weeks.
COMBATING DROUGHT WITH LEAK DETECTION
The efficiency of water leak detection crews can be increased with rapid and accurate correlation on any material of pipe or even on multiple pipe types. Superior leak signal resolution enables field crews to pinpoint narrow band, low-frequency leaks, helping to avoid expensive dry holes due to false background signals. The multi-award winning LeakFinderST correlator was specifically designed in collaboration with a major UK water company to detect leaks on difficult pipe materials such as plastic and to accurately pinpoint quiet leaks. A PC-based software platform and streamlined graphical user interface make it quick and simple to detect and record a leak position.
DROUGHT SOLUTIONS
More than one-third of the United States is facing drought conditions, often in parts of the country experiencing high levels of population growth, putting added stress on water utilities. Having a wide variety of products and services to support water conservation efforts, from short-term, “shovel-ready” approaches to well-planned, long-term capital projects, can help water utilities better manage water shortages and restrictions. Click below to learn more about the Mueller Water Products portfolio of SMART solution to help conserve water.
EchoShore-TX leak detection platform for transmission main monitoring.
EchoShore-DX leak detection technology for distribution mains. The platform is based on acoustic sensors that are fitted into fire hydrants to monitor a desired section of the water distribution network.
Hydro-Guard® S.M.A.R.T Flushing System from Mueller Co. can monitor water quality and automatically initiates flushing as necessary to maintain disinfectant residuals.
Mi.Net® (Mueller Infrastructure Network For Utilities) System goes well beyond the standard AMI offerings of increased meter reading and billing efficiency. With just one product, the Mi.Net system is also able to address the problem of distribution pipe leaks, and at the same time, offer water supply deficiency control measures, remote connect and disconnect metering, on-demand meter readings, e-mail alerts and usage alarms based on near real-time information.