Echologics® |San Jose Water Leak Detection

Early leak detection is vital for distribution systems, with the ability to identify system failure points before they impact customer service levels. When water resources are limited, early leak detection is a valuable tool in reducing non-revenue water and extending pipe asset life. The EchoShore®-DX platform is a fixed leak detection technology that is changing the way water main leaks are identified and repaired.

For many cities throughout the country, severe drought conditions have reduced water sources, making water an even more invaluable commodity. San Jose Water was faced with such a challenge after one of the worst droughts to the region in U.S. history. After a successful pilot program, the utility selected EchoShore-DX sensors by Echologics to become a central part of its water loss control program.

Drought Recovery

Since 1866, San Jose Water has grown to serve more than 1 million customers in a 140-square-mile-area in Silicon Valley today. From 2011 to 2017, the state of California at large experienced one of the worst droughts to the region in history, reducing many reservoirs and resulting in a statewide emergency and pressure on residents and utilities to find ways to both cut and conserve water.

“The recent historic drought in California and subsequent calls for customer conservation raised aware- ness as well as customer expectations for San Jose Water to take proactive steps towards effective and active control of its real-water loss,” said Jake Walsh, director of capital planning & asset management for San Jose Water.

As a result, San Jose Water implemented a pilot water loss control program that would quickly capture, correct and prevent water loss within the distribution network.

The Search for a Strategic Approach

San Jose’s water distribution network consists of about 2,400 miles of water mains. Previously, the utility used a traditional approach to leak detection, waiting for leaks on its buried water mains to surface before it would intervene, and an annual proactive inspection program for its above grade water mains. For the new pilot program, San Jose Water was in search of a technology that would allow them to take a more strategic approach to capturing and preventing water loss.

San Jose Water reached out to Echologics during the initial phase of  the pilot, and EchoShore-DX cellular sensors were recommended as the technological solution for the project. The acoustic sensors, embedded into hydrant caps, capture acoustic sound waves travelling through the pipe and use the resulting data file to correlate leak locations.

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Taxonomy

• Infrastructure
• Integrated Infrastructure
• Infrastructure Management
• green infrastructure