Ideally, leak detection should be done on a regular schedule to catch issues early. In reality, many municipalities operate reactively, addressing leaks only when they surface or are reported.

This leaves a blind spot for hidden leaks that often persist for months or years, quietly increasing water loss and system strain. If a program isn’t in place, detection should begin as soon as unexplained water loss or unusual usage is identified, helping shift from reactive fixes to more proactive management.

Modern leak detection methods can locate leaks with a high degree of accuracy, helping crews focus repairs and reduce unnecessary excavation. Accuracy can vary depending on factors like soil conditions and the quality of available infrastructure records.

When asset information is reliable and materials are known, advanced acoustic systems are highly effective at narrowing down leak locations and guiding efficient, targeted repairs.

Leak detection gives municipalities a clearer picture of how their system is really performing, helping them stay ahead of issues instead of reacting to them.

Over time, tracking where leaks occur and how severe they are (especially in a GIS) can highlight problem areas, making it easier to plan repairs, prioritize upgrades, and target future capital expenditures like line replacements and system improvements more effectively.

Aerial thermal screening helps identify broader problem areas by detecting saturated ground or surface moisture that isn’t easily visible from the ground. It’s especially useful in areas with limited access points, like hydrants or valves.

Acoustic surveys, on the other hand, are used to pinpoint the exact location of a leak. Tools like geophones and correlators allow crews to narrow in on the source, making repairs faster and more targeted.

Together, these methods complement each other: one helps find where to look, and the other confirms exactly where to dig.

Yes. Leaks can generally be prioritized based on their severity and potential impact, helping crews focus on the most critical issues first.

That said, factors like how long a leak has been active, ground saturation, pipe material, and soil conditions can sometimes mask its true severity. While prioritization is a valuable tool for planning, it’s best used as a guide rather than an absolute measure.

WLD feeds real-world observations into GIS, linking leak data, hydrant readings, and system details like pressure and supply zones in one place.

This makes it easy to compare expected vs. actual conditions, while building a record of where issues occur. Over time, this supports trend analysis, highlights recurring problem areas, and helps guide capital planning such as targeted line replacements and upgrades.

The result is a clearer, map-based view of system performance, helping staff validate field conditions, track work, and make more informed maintenance and planning decisions.

Night-time surveys provide more reliable results because water use and background noise are significantly lower. During the day, traffic, environmental noise, and normal water demand can mask or mimic leak sounds.

At night, reduced usage creates quieter conditions, while increased system pressure makes leaks louder and easier to detect. With fewer people using water and less ambient noise, crews can more clearly identify true leak signals and improve overall detection accuracy.

Yes. Although RPM is always there for its clients and able to respond to immediate concerns, We specialize in proactive annual, semi-annual or bi-annual programs designed to reduce non-revenue water by systematically screening and confirming leaks across entire distribution systems.

We integrate with your team’s workflows, providing clear, field-usable results that help your crews validate findings, target repairs, and document outcomes for ongoing system management.