We visited a property in Winchester to carry out a leak detection, as the customer has been losing approximately 120 litres of water per hour.
On visual inspection, there were no obvious signs of a leak or water damage within the property.
We conducted a flow meter test from the water meter to the internal stop tap. When the internal stop tap was isolated, there was still rapid movement on the water meter, indicating that the leak is located between the water meter and the internal stop tap.
A pressure test was then carried out on the main supply pipe between the water meter and the internal stop tap. The test was conducted at 4 bar pressure, which dropped in under two minutes—confirming a significant leak within that section.
We proceeded with a tracer gas investigation along the external pipework through the garden. No tracer gas was detected externally, nor was any gas detected at the water meter.
An acoustic trace was also performed along the same areas where the tracer gas test had been conducted. However, the main road is less than 0.5 metres from the water meter and approximately 12 metres from the property, causing background interference that compromised the effectiveness of the acoustic trace. Within the property, the acoustic trace functioned adequately in accessible areas, but no sound of a leak was detected.
In conclusion, no leak could be identified within the property itself. Flow testing, pressure testing, tracer gas, and acoustic methods were all utilised to the fullest extent possible.
There remains a 10-metre section of embankment that is inaccessible for tracing.
The leak is confirmed to be on the main supply line between the water meter and the internal stop tap. It is suspected that the leak lies within the inaccessible embankment section.
Due to the inaccessibility of the suspected area for tracing, excavation, or repair, consideration should be given to replacing the water pipe via moling.
Water specialists and are fully qualified and accredited by WIAPS and TAPS 5. This basically means we can sign off your new water supply without inspection by the water board for most water companies especially Thames Water (TAPS 5), South east water and Affinity Water (WIAPS).