Whether you’re a contractor starting a new project, or an engineer overseeing a municipal water or wastewater system, the best way to protect the buried infrastructure in your care is to know its precise location and condition.
Maintaining the integrity of buried water and wastewater infrastructure is critical for ensuring public health, environmental protection, and efficient service delivery. Contractors and municipalities rely on various pipeline inspection services to identify potential issues, assess the condition of pipelines, and plan maintenance and repair activities.
The Importance of Pipeline Inspection
Water and wastewater pipelines are subject to a variety of stresses, including age-related deterioration, environmental factors, ground movement, and human activities such as construction and excavation. Regular inspection of these pipelines helps in early detection of issues, preventing costly repairs and service interruptions.
Sewer Pipe Inspection
Sewer pipe inspection is a fundamental service for assessing the condition of wastewater infrastructure. It involves the use of advanced technologies to detect defects, blockages, and other issues within the sewer system.
Techniques and Tools
- Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Inspection: CCTV inspection is a widely used method for sewer pipe assessment. It involves inserting a camera – attached to either a remote-controlled rover or a push-fed, flexible rod – into the sewer line to capture high-resolution video footage, allowing inspectors to identify cracks, root intrusions, blockages, and other defects.
- Laser Profiling: Laser profiling is used to measure the interior dimensions of sewer pipes. It helps detect deformities, corrosion, and other structural issues that may affect the flow capacity of the sewer system.
- Sonar Inspection: Sonar technology is used to inspect partially filled sewer pipes. It creates a profile of the pipe interior by using sound waves, identifying sediment build-up and underwater obstructions.
Non-Revenue Water Loss Detection
Non-revenue water loss (NRWL) refers to water that is produced but not billed to customers due to leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies. Detecting and addressing NRWL is essential for water conservation and financial sustainability.
Techniques and Tools
- Acoustic Leak Detection: Acoustic sensors are used to detect the sound of water escaping from pipes. This method helps pinpoint the location of leaks, allowing for targeted repairs.
- Leak Detection Correlators: Also called leak noise correlators, these specialized electronic devices are used by professional leak detection service companies to locate leaks in water lines and water pipes quickly and accurately.
- Water Meter Testing and Calibration: Ensuring the accuracy of water meters is crucial for reducing NRWL. Regular testing and calibration of meters help identify inaccuracies and improve billing efficiency.
- Pressure Management: Monitoring and adjusting water pressure within the distribution system can prevent pipe bursts and reduce leakage, contributing to lower NRWL.
Cross Bore Detection
Cross bores occur when new utility lines, such as gas pipes, intersect existing sewer or water lines. This can lead to dangerous situations, including gas leaks and service disruptions.
The best way to mitigate the risk of cross bores is to mandate cross bore inspections both before and after any directional drilling projects near your wastewater infrastructure.
Techniques and Tools
- Cross Bore Inspection Cameras: Also known as lateral launch rovers, these specialized cameras are used to inspect sewer lines for cross bores following directional drilling activities. These cameras navigate through the pipes and provide detailed images of any intersecting utilities.
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): GPR is used to detect the location of existing underground utilities before new installations, minimizing the risk of cross bores.
GPRS Offers Professional Leak Detection & Sewer Pipe Inspection Services
Pipeline inspection services are indispensable for maintaining the safety, efficiency, and longevity of buried water and wastewater infrastructure. By utilizing advanced techniques and tools, contractors and municipalities can effectively manage sewer pipe inspection, address non-revenue water loss, prevent cross bores, ensure safe directional drilling, detect soil contamination, and implement robust risk mitigation strategies.
Investing in regular pipeline inspections and proactive maintenance not only protects public health and the environment but also enhances the economic stability and resilience of communities. These efforts ensure that water and wastewater systems continue to function reliably, providing essential services to residents and businesses for years to come.
Routine water loss surveys alone could save you millions of gallons and thousands of dollars.
GPRS offers pinpoint-accurate leak detection and NASSCO-certified video pipe inspection services to protect your water and wastewater infrastructure. Utilizing acoustic leak detection and leak detection correlators, we mitigate the risk of non-revenue water loss. And our CCTV camera-equipped sewer inspection rovers and push-fed scopes can map and evaluate your sanitary sewer and stormwater lines, so you know where problems are, and where you need to dig to fix them.
GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.
What can we help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles of water pipe can GPRS evaluate for leaks in one day?
Our professional leak detection specialists can test up to 10 miles of pipe a day on a metallic system (Cast Iron/Ductile), and can test a contact point (Hydrant/Valve) within a minute before moving on to the next one. Our Project Managers can work efficiently because they are trained to hear the specific tone that a leak produces compared to any other number of noises a general environment makes.
Why don’t I see any water where you’ve pinpointed as the location of the leak?
Water finds the path of least resistance. Water can run through cracks in subsurface rock or make its way into storm, sanitary, and conduit piping. If the subsurface contains a high volume of sand, it will naturally flow farther down. There is no water visible on the surface in more than 99% of the leaks we locate.
What size sanitary sewer and stormwater pipes can GPRS inspect with its Video Pipe Inspection service?
Our elite, NASSCO-certified VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.
What deliverables does GPRS offer when conducting a VPI?
GPRS is proud to offer WinCan reporting to our Video Pipe Inspection clients. Maintaining sewers starts with understanding sewer condition, and WinCan allows GPRS Project Managers to collect detailed, NASSCO-compliant inspection data. GPRS Project Managers not only inspect the interior condition of sewer pipes, laterals, and manholes – they can also provide a map of their location. The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Department can provide detailed GPS overlays and CAD files. Our detailed WinCan/NASSCO reports contain screenshots of the interior condition of the pipe segments that we inspect, as well as a video file for further evaluation, documentation, and/or reference.
