Sonar Hydrophone Detection
Underwater acoustic sensors inserted directly into the water column through hydrants or taps to detect leaks in large-diameter and deep-buried pipes.
How Sonar Hydrophone Detection Works
Sonar hydrophone technology uses underwater acoustic sensors deployed directly into the water column through existing access points such as hydrants, air valves, or service taps. Unlike surface acoustic methods that rely on sound transmission through soil and pipe walls, hydrophones detect leak sounds directly through the water — bypassing the signal loss that occurs in deep or large-diameter pipes. This method is exceptionally sensitive and can detect leaks in pipes up to 2000+ mm diameter at depths where surface acoustic methods fail entirely. A single hydrophone insertion can survey 1+ km of transmission main.
Applications in BC
- Large-diameter transmission water main surveys
- Deep-buried municipal water lines over 3 metres deep
- Plastic pipe leak detection in distribution systems
- Pre-commissioning leak verification on new mains
- Reservoir and raw water line leak detection
Advantages
- Extremely sensitive — detects leaks in large pipes
- Bypasses signal loss from soil and pavement
- Effective on plastic pipes
- Can survey long sections from single access point
- Works in high-flow conditions
Limitations
- Requires access point into water column
- More expensive than surface acoustic
- Requires specialized training
- Not portable for small-scale surveys
Equipment Used
- • Echologics SoundSens hydrophone system
- • Hydreka AquaSound hydrophone
- • Gutermann Hydrolux hydrophone
- • Pure Technologies SmartBall system
- • Sewerin Hydrophone set
Professional Sonar Hydrophone Detection in BC
LeakInspections.ca — a division of Anyleak.ca and Leak.ca. Call 604-239-9934.