When a company or homeowner notices a water leak or blockage, there is a high sense of urgency to identify the problem, determine the location and begin repair. GPRS specializes in all types of video pipe inspection and leak detection to identify cracks, leaks, and blockages, servicing municipal, industrial, and residential clients.
Water line leaks can cause many problems, including severe structural, MEP system damage, and mold growth on sites and infrastructure. Wastewater that leaks out of defective pipe joints and cracks may contaminate the ground and surface water and cause a host of other problems. Sewer pipe cracks and leaks are serious problems that can lead to property damage, soil pollution, and health issues. Sewage contains harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that cause illness. Sewer gas leaks can cause people to experience headaches, dizziness, sinus infections, and more.
For example, in March 2023, five primary treatment tanks became clogged with sewage, garbage and sediment at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. This sewage has overwhelmed an international wastewater treatment plant in San Diego, causing 30 million gallons a day of partially treated sewage to flow into the Pacific Ocean.
It is imperative that water and sewer leaks are immediately addressed to avoid these problems and minimize service interruptions.
What are the Signs of Water and Sewer Line Leaks?
Signs of water supply pipe leaks and sewer line leaks can vary depending on the severity and location of the leak, but here are some common signs to look out for:
- Visible water damage
- Sounds of constantly running water
- Sewage backup
- Unpleasant or foul odors
- Wet or soggy ground
- Unusual landscape growth
- Rodent activity
- Slow drains
- Sudden increase in water bills
- Pooling water outdoors
- Cracks in foundation or walls
- Decreased water pressure
- Mold or mildew growth
Who Repairs an Underground Water and Sewer Pipe?
If you suspect a water supply or sewer line leak, it is essential to communicate the problem and address it promptly to prevent further damages and water loss (also called non-revenue water or NRW). The city is responsible for assessing most water and sewer mains, manholes, hydrants, and valves. City crews install, repair, and maintain water and sewer service lines and perform backflow prevention inspections.
When a company, facility, or homeowner experience any of the signs of a damaged water or sewer line, they should contact a professional to assess the pipe condition and pinpoint defects. A professional leak detection company is often brought out for leak detection services. Utilizing video pipe inspection and leak detection specialized equipment, they can inspect and identify the source of the issue, whether it's a crack, break, blockage, or other damage. These methods are cheaper and faster than digging up a sewer or water line.
Who Provides Video Pipe Inspection and Leak Detection Services?
The first step in locating a water or sewer leak is to request a professional inspection. GPRS provides municipal, industrial, and residential video pipe inspection and leak detection services.
A Video Pipe Inspection (CCTV) is a sewer line inspection that involves sending a remote controlled, camera-equipped rover into a sewer line to inspect it for the defects. VPI inspections assess underground water, sewer lines, and lateral pipelines. Video pipe inspection, sometimes referred to as a sewer inspection or sewer scope inspection, is an efficient, non-destructive way to find leaks, cracks, and blockages. Rather than digging up the entire length of a pipe to find and fix the problem, robotic video pipe cameras, push cameras, and lateral launch cameras are used to inspect inside the water or sewer line. GPRS NASSCO-certified Project Managers can locate clogs, collapses, tree roots, investigate cross bores, find structural faults and damages, conduct lateral sewer line inspections, and more.
Leak detection services utilize two primary technologies. GPRS Project Managers identify leaks using the data collected with leak detection correlators, and then pinpoint the exact location using acoustic leak detection equipment. Leak detection correlators use sensors placed on both sides of the pipe and the sensors send information back and forth between each other via radio waves. Acoustic leak detection uses sophisticated ground microphones to listen for leaks coming from subsurface pipes.
What Video Pipe Inspection Reports Are Available?
GPRS Video Pipe Inspection reports are delivered quickly in a format that makes it easy to review and use during the repair or replacement of lines. The field report delivered includes not only a detailed description of each sewer leak or other defect found – including videos and photos of the issue – but also information on all services provided, the equipment utilized, and notes from the Project Manager that completed the job. GPRS’ Mapping and Modeling team can deliver Video Pipe Inspection Reports and Video Files, plus 2D CAD drawings, virtual tours, and integrated 3D models of the site.
WinCan Video Pipe Inspection Reports
A video pipe inspection report is a comprehensive summary of the observations made during a CCTV video sewer assessment. GPRS delivers WinCan reporting to our Video Pipe Inspection clients. WinCan software allows GPRS Project Managers to collect detailed, NASSCO compliant inspection reports of pipe defects and their severity.
Video Inspection Files
Our detailed WinCan/NASSCO-certified reports contain screen shots of the interior condition of the pipe segments that we inspect. Our Project Managers will also provide a video file of the complete inspection for further evaluation, documentation, or reference.
2D Maps
GPRS Project Managers not only inspect the interior condition of sewer pipes, sewer laterals and manholes – they can provide comprehensive 2D CAD drawings with annotations and geolocation of VPI findings such as pipe size and type, inverts, laterals, and any defect found during GPRS’ video pipe inspection. The PDF file includes embedded links to the virtual tour and the VPI WinCan videos at each manhole location. As-built dimensions and utility markings can be added to the 2D CAD VPI findings map.
3D Virtual Tour and Models
Site data can be captured with photogrammetry or 3D laser scanning to create a virtual tour and integrated as built 3D model of the site. Above ground as-built data and subsurface utility maps can be added to the 3D model to create a comprehensive as-built of the site documenting, architectural, structural, and MEP features, plus utility location and depths, including electrical, water, sewer, sanitary, storm, steam, and communication.
What Leak Detection Reports Are Available?
Leak detection reports provide a comprehensive summary of the observations made during our assessment. The field report delivered includes not only a detailed description of each leak found – including photos of the issue – but also information on all services provided, the equipment utilized, and notes from the Project Manager that completed the job.
What is GPRS’ SiteMap® Software Platform?
When you partner with GPRS, the data we collect is uploaded to SiteMap®, a cloud-based software that stores water, sewer, and manhole inspection reports, maps, models, and video files in an easy-to-use interface for project planning. All GPRS customers receive a complimentary SiteMap® Personal subscription, so they can access and share jobsite data with their team in real time from anywhere, 24/7.
How Do You Repair a Water or Sewer Line?
Repairing a sewer line can be a complex and labor-intensive process, often requiring professional expertise. Once the cause and location of the water or sewer problem is identified, municipalities or contractors can determine the appropriate method of repair. They may perform trenchless sewer repairs for minor issues, or employ traditional excavation and replacement practices if they discover that the issue is more severe.
Before a repair or excavation, it is important that all underground utilities in the area are marked and mapped. Digging without knowing the precise location of underground utilities can result in many risks – serious injuries, service disruptions, project delays, costly fines, repairs, and even death when gas, electric, communications, water, or sewer lines are damaged. Utility locating & mapping with ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) technology ensures excavation can be completed safely, so that maintenance and repairs can be planned and targeted to reduce unnecessary excavation, utility strikes, and accidents.
What Do You Recommend for Long Term Maintenance?
The average lifespan of a sewer pipe is 50 to 100 years. Sewer line integrity depends on how the pipe was originally installed, the makeup of the soil, what's happened to the ground over time, and what surrounds the sewer.
All sewer/storm systems should undergo bi-annual video pipe inspections to locate defects such as cross bores, degradation, inflow & infiltration, etc. This allows customers to know the exact type, location, and severity of any problems and track them on a regular basis. Video pipe inspections eliminate service interruptions and other repercussions that can be caused by unmitigated pipe defects.
For leak detection, routine water loss inspections are helpful in preventing unnecessary water loss to save businesses and municipalities money. Water systems can develop leaks due to corrosion, high system pressure, damage caused during construction, improper installation, frost or freezing, failing or damaged joints, and ground shifting or settling.
Why Choose GPRS? The GPRS Difference
GPRS is the nation’s leading provider of utility locating, concrete scanning and imaging, 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, drone photogrammetry, and mapping & modeling services.
GPRS Video Pipe Inspection services can help discover a collapsed sewer lateral, duct, or an unknown blockage in a pipe. This non-destructive service locates the exact defect in your water or sewer line: including bellies, collapses, tree roots, lateral taps, cross bores, or other damages.
GPRS specializes in all types of Leak Detection including municipal, industrial, and residential. Our water loss specialists have the equipment to locate your leak and the expertise to provide many other insights into your water distribution system. GPRS does this by utilizing a variety of equipment paired with their industry-leading SIM process. The equipment and methods used include acoustic leak detectors, leak noise correlators, video pipe inspection, ground penetrating radar, and electromagnetic locating, among others.
GPRS’ mission is to deliver comprehensive video pipe inspection and leak detection reports, maps and models, so that any necessary excavation and repairs can be completed quickly and safely. GPRS can also perform a final video inspection to check for proper repair and drainage flow before activating the new system.
What can we help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are leak noise correlators?
Leak Detection Correlators are powerful electronic devices to accurately locate leaks in water lines. Two or more sensors are placed in contact with the pipe on both sides of the suspected leak. Those sensors record and transmit the sound by radio to the processing unit. Mathematical algorithms are used to determine the exact location of certain noise profiles (such as hissing leak sound) on the pipe, by correlating the noises that reach both sensors and measuring the difference it takes to travel on the pipe from the leak location to each sensor.
What is acoustic leak detection?
Acoustic leak detection involves using sophisticated ground microphones to listen for leaks coming from pressurized subsurface pipes. They are an essential part of any plumber's and leak detection team's operating equipment and are used to validate pinpointed leak locations. Our Project Managers are acoustic leak detection specialists, who are thoroughly trained on leaking pipes' specific sounds and frequencies.
What equipment is used for utility locating?
To provide accurate utility locating data, the most common technologies employed are ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locators. Each has the ability to locate particular types of underground pipes, conduit, and other lines, and each has different specifications for various soil types, materials, etc. Once the utilities have been located, their locations can be uploaded to be overlaid on a GPS satellite map for a quick map record, and can be uploaded on-site via SiteMap® for GPRS customers to have immediate, interactive, layered subsurface utility maps at their fingertips.
