Leak-Noise Correlation in British Columbia
Leak-noise correlation is the precision tool of municipal leak detection. Two acoustic sensors are placed on a pressurized main on either side of a suspected leak; the instrument measures the tiny time difference between the leak sound reaching each sensor and calculates the leak's exact position along the pipe. It is the standard method for locating leaks on long water mains.
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- Pinpoints leaks to within inches between two contact points
- Effective on long runs where listening alone can't localize
- Accounts for pipe material and diameter in the calculation
- Confirms acoustic-survey suspects before excavation
- Single targeted excavation instead of trial digging
- Confident location even where the leak doesn't surface
- Reduced restoration cost and road disruption
Leak-Noise Correlation — FAQ
On metallic mains, correlation routinely locates a leak to within inches over spans of dozens of metres. Accuracy depends on pipe material, diameter, the leak's character and sensor spacing, which is why the pipe details are entered into the correlator before the measurement.
Serving BC Municipalities
Leak-Noise Correlation guidance for water utilities across British Columbia. Explore local water-main context by city:
Other Municipal Services
Pinpoint leaks on buried distribution and transmission mains without excavating the whole street.
Recover treated water lost to leaks before it reaches customers — and target the worst losses first.
Walk the network listening at every valve and hydrant to surface hidden background leakage.
Large-diameter supply mains carry huge volumes — a single leak is a major, hard-to-hear loss.
Divide the network into measured zones so rising night flow flags leakage early.
Right-sizing pressure cuts both leakage volume and the rate of new breaks.
Hydrants and valves are the network's listening posts — and assets worth checking themselves.
Deploy loggers across a zone to listen overnight and report where new leakage appears.
Before a main renewal program, know which segments are actually leaking and failing.
Locate the break, find any related leakage, and document the failure for the record.
Know exactly where the buried main, valves and connections run before any work.
Need leak-noise correlation for your network?
Leaks.ca is the educational hub for BC water utilities and property owners. Leaks.ca is the educational division — for booking and on-site detection across British Columbia, our service partner Leak.ca handles professional assessments.
Educational hub & service-support division of Leak.ca · Serving all of British Columbia · Since 1999