Wachs Water Services announced that it has recently been awarded several multi-year contracts to inspect up to 4,000 miles of critical water mains for leaks in Connecticut and Texas. The contracts have a combined value of approximately $1 million.
The prolonged drought conditions in many parts of the U.S. over the summer have resulted in critical water pipelines bursting in record numbers around the country, causing significant repair backlogs, service interruptions, and business and road closures.
Soil surrounding buried water pipelines dries and shrinks in the summer and freezes and expands in the winter, which can cause water pipes to shift and develop leaks. If the water main is old or in a structurally deficient condition, the changing ground conditions make the water main even more susceptible to leaks or failures.
To help utilities manage the increase in water main breaks and to conserve water resources, Wachs Water Services will deploy a variety of leak detection solutions, including correlator listening devices and the Investigator in-line condition assessment technology for small diameter distribution mains.
Many water industry experts believe that North America is entering an infrastructure replacement era, which will require massive investments despite challenging economic conditions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over the next 20-year period, nearly $334 billion will be required to update water infrastructure.
Source: Wachs Water Services
