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EBMUD sets ‘loggers’ to listen for leaks

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 31, 2008 at 6:39 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

In the middle of the night, when most of Berkeley is sleeping, hundreds of underground objects are listening for sounds that people can’t hear. They haven’t been planted by terrorists, spies, FBI agents or mystics. Instead, the East Bay Municipal Utility District is installing the acoustic devices, known as “loggers,” in an unprecedented pilot project to conserve water by finding leaks in water mains before they surface.

The effort was conceived of before the drought, but has taken on added urgency because of it. Within a few months, the loggers will be all over town. More than 300 are in place, with as many as 900 yet to come.

“You can hear a water leak before you see it,” said David Wallenstein, an associate engineer in the utility’s water department who is overseeing the project. “And nighttime is the best time to hear leaks. It’s supposed to be quiet then, and you can detect noise when there shouldn’t be noise.”

The noise made by leaks travels nicely in metal pipes, Wallenstein said, and is distinct from the normal flow in a water main, which is fairly subdued. “The loggers are looking for loudness and consistency,” he said. “They’re looking for something continuous – not someone taking a shower.”

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

August 31, 2008 · Filed Under Other Water Agencies

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