Methods of pipe and leak detection in underground water and sewer reticulations

Abstract

Traditionally when new underground utilities were added to an area where other utilities had already been installed, like a water reticulation network, and the new utility was to pass by or cross the existing one the party doing the installation would run a big risk of damaging the existing utility. This risk would greatly be reduced if the exact position of existing utilities were known. Another problem is detecting water leaks in services because of the natural flow of water. (Flowing through the path of least resistance.) This causes excavations to be large in comparison to what is needed for the repair of the leak. The aim of this treatise will be to investigate different technologies available to discover leaks and/or the positions of underground water, storm water and sewer reticulation networks.