The acoustic sensors, embedded into hydrant caps, capture the acoustic sound waves traveling through the pipe and use the resulting data file to correlate leak locations.
Finding this leak prior to its surfacing allowed San Jose Water to send crews to repair it outside of normal commute hours, minimizing disruption and protecting the environment.
San Jose Water will continue to add sensors to its distribution network of about 19,000 hydrants in multiple upcoming phases. For a full system deployment of EchoShore-DX, San Jose Water will need to add about 8,000 more sensors to the 2,000 it has already deployed.
“We plan to continue to strategically deploy acoustic leak detection sensors throughout the service area based on a scientific and objective methodology that focuses our efforts on monitoring pipe segments with the highest probability and consequence of failure,” Walsh said.
The project has been mutually beneficial for Mueller Water Products and San Jose Water. While Walsh noted that the technology has allowed San Jose Water to better serve its customers by improving levels of service, reducing real-water losses and protecting the environment, participation in San Jose Water’s water loss program has also contributed to the development and expansion of the EchoShore-DX technology.
“San Jose has played a critical role in the evolution of this technology,” said Keefer. “A lot of the feedback they’ve provided has helped us develop and integrate analytics and technology enhancements that we are currently using today, which has helped us expand our scalability for other utilities.” WW
About the Author: Virgil Diaz is a senior sales engineer for Mueller Water Products. Learn more at www.muellerwaterproducts.com.
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