Trunk & Transmission Main Leak Detection in British Columbia

Trunk and transmission mains are the largest pipes in a water distribution system, typically ranging from 300 mm to over 2000 mm in diameter. These pipes carry massive volumes of water under high pressure from treatment plants to distribution networks. A leak on a trunk main is a high-consequence event — water loss is enormous, service disruption affects thousands of customers, and the cost of excavation and repair in busy transportation corridors is extreme. Standard acoustic methods often fail on large-diameter pipes because the leak sound is dispersed across a larger water volume and the pipe mass dampens vibration transmission. We use hydrophone technology that inserts acoustic sensors directly into the water column through existing access points such as air valves, blow-offs, or service taps. This direct water-contact method detects leaks that surface acoustic methods miss entirely.