Leak Detection and Water Use Monitoring
All water systems experience leaks. Aging pipes, joints, and service lines can allow water to escape over time, even in well‑maintained systems. This is a normal reality of municipal water systems and is not unique to Van Anda. The goal is not to eliminate leaks entirely, but to detect them earlier, reduce losses, and respond efficiently.
Reducing unnecessary water loss is increasingly important due to:
- the rising cost of water treatment, and
- the limited daily capacity of the water treatment plant, which is occasionally reached.
Leak reduction helps ensure reliable service for everyone.
Historical Leak Detection Work (Velocity Water Services)
To better understand and reduce water loss, VAID previously engaged Velocity Water Services, a professional leak detection contractor. Velocity’s work:
- identified hidden leaks not visible at the surface,
- provided a system‑wide baseline of water loss,
- allowed repairs to be prioritized where they would have the greatest impact.
This work significantly reduced overall water production and improved system performance. It remains an important foundation for today’s leak management approach.
How Leak Detection Works Today
As the water system has been upgraded, leak detection has shifted from periodic survey‑based work to continuous monitoring supported by water meters and targeted field investigation. Leak detection is now built into routine system monitoring rather than handled as a standalone program.
VAID continuously:
- monitors system performance,
- investigates abnormal readings or pressure changes,
- repairs leaks as they are identified,
- replaces aging infrastructure through planned upgrades.
Meters and Continuous Monitoring
As part of the Meter Pilot Project, water meters are being installed across the distribution system. These meters provide ongoing information about water use, allowing VAID to:
- identify unusual or continuous usage patterns,
- compare system‑wide water production against measured consumption,
- investigate potential leaks sooner, rather than waiting for scheduled surveys.
Meters improve visibility into water use on private property and overall system demand. They do not identify the exact physical location of underground leaks, but they help indicate when water is being lost or used continuously.
Meter data has a several‑hour delay, so it is best used for trend analysis rather than real‑time confirmation.
Understanding System Water Loss
Metering allows VAID to measure:
- total water production at the treatment plant, and
- total customer consumption.
By comparing these figures, VAID can better understand how much treated water is unaccounted for due to leaks, operational uses, or other losses. This comparison does not replace field investigation, but it helps prioritize leak detection and repair work where losses appear greatest.
Leak Detection Tools Used by VAID
Meters provide continuous monitoring, but additional tools remain part of VAID’s leak management toolkit and are used when needed to confirm or locate specific issues.
Visual Monitoring
Staff watch for visible signs of leaks, including:
- running water where it should not be present,
- wet spots that never dry,
- persistent surface staining,
- unusual vegetation growth.
Because much of Van Anda’s ground is rocky, not all leaks surface, but visible indicators remain an important first signal.
Public awareness plays a critical role. Residents often notice changes near their homes, on roads, or along rights‑of‑way before staff do.
Monitoring Tank Levels and Treatment Plant Flow
VAID tracks water production and compares it against measured consumption. Trends can indicate possible leaks, system losses, or operational issues. This narrows the window of time and area where losses may be occurring.
Pressure Testing
Used to check for leaks past a service connection. A pressure gauge is attached to an exterior faucet and monitored. If pressure drops without water being used, this may indicate a leak on the customer’s service line or within the property.
Acoustical Leak Detection
VAID has acoustical leak detection equipment used when conditions warrant further investigation.
Leak sounds vary based on:
- severity,
- pipe location and depth,
- water pressure,
- pipe material,
- surrounding soil and surface cover.
How acoustic detectors work:
- headphones
- microphone
- electronic monitor
- acoustic listening stick
The microphone is placed above buried pipes to listen for leak noise. Louder signals may indicate the location of a leak.
Acoustical detection helps narrow down leak locations without unnecessary excavation, reducing disturbance, repair costs, and environmental impact.
General Information on System Leakage
All municipalities have aging water infrastructure that leaks to one degree or another. In Van Anda, rocky ground means water often drains downward instead of surfacing, making some leaks difficult to see.
Beyond mainline leaks, a significant portion of water loss comes from household leaks. Individually small leaks — when multiplied across many homes — can add up to a large volume of treated water loss.
What Residents Can Do to Help
Common sources of household water loss include:
- running toilets,
- leaking taps,
- faulty irrigation systems,
- leaking household service lines.
Residents can help by:
- repairing toilets that run continuously,
- fixing leaking fixtures or irrigation systems,
- shutting the tap off rather than relying on a hose nozzle.
A single leaky toilet can waste 300 gallons per day — over 73,000 gallons per year.
Water Loss Examples (Leak Calculator)
| Leak Diameter @ 100 PSI | Gallons Per Minute | Gallons Per Day | Gallons Per Year | Annual Cost at $2.10/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16″ hole | 0.82 | 1,181 | 430,992 | $3,426 |
| 1/8″ hole | 3.26 | 4,694 | 1,713,456 | $13,622 |
| 3/16″ hole | 7.34 | 10,570 | 3,857,904 | $30,670 |
| 1/4″ hole | 13.05 | 18,792 | 6,859,080 | $54,530 |
Other leaks:
- Dripping faucet: 15 gal/day
- Leaking toilet: 720 gal/day
- Unattended hose overnight: 14,400 gal
- Hose running 24/7: 10,512,000 gal/year
- Broken service line: 17,344,800 gal/year
- Stuck ice maker: 1,051,200 gal/year
- Washing machine check valve (30 min/day): 87,600 gal/year
Van Anda’s water system PSI ranges from 40–125, so leaks nearest sea level are more wasteful.
Reporting a Possible Leak
If you suspect a leak on VAID infrastructure or your property, please contact us.
For urgent water emergencies, call: 1‑672‑882‑9901
Residents must not open meter pits. The antenna can be damaged. VAID staff will perform all meter box inspections.
In Summary
- All water systems have leaks.
- Velocity provided critical baseline detection.
- Meters now enable continuous monitoring.
- VAID uses multiple tools to identify leaks.
- Both VAID and residents play a role in reducing water loss.
- Controlling water leaks is like fire prevention — it’s everybody’s business.
Read about Water Leaks on Private Property