Ground microphone survey
Acoustic leak location
Pressurised water escaping a pipe produces a distinct noise signature that travels along the pipe wall and through surrounding soil or concrete. Ground microphones and acoustic listening sticks pick that signature up at the surface, and comparing intensity along the run narrows the failure to a small zone that can be marked for repair.
Scope
What this covers
Ground microphone sweeps over slabs, paths and driveways
Listening-stick checks at valves, stop taps and fixture connections
Correlation of noise intensity along the suspected pipe route
Surface marking of the strongest signal point for the repairer
Timing
When it's needed
Acoustic work suits pressurised supply lines: a heated line hissing beneath a slab, a buried service dampening one strip of lawn, or a meter that keeps turning with every fixture closed. Very quiet, low-pressure weeps sometimes need a complementary method layered on top.
If escaping water reaches switchboards, power points or light fittings, keep people clear and isolate power at the main switch only if it is safe to reach. Shut water off at the meter stop tap, and treat any sagging, water-laden ceiling as a collapse risk rather than something to prod.
Quote variables
What shapes the scope
Depth of the pipe and the surface material above it
Background noise from traffic, pumps or machinery on site
Pipe material: metallic pipe carries sound further than plastic
Whether supply can be briefly manipulated to sharpen the signal
In NSW, repairs to water services and sanitary plumbing must be performed by the holder of a plumbing licence or certificate issued through NSW Fair Trading. Detection surveys inform that work rather than replace it: check the licence of whoever carries out the repair, and note that Sydney Water requirements apply to anything at or near the meter connection.
Detection methods
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If this is an emergency or anyone is at immediate risk, contact the relevant emergency service or your network or utility operator directly instead of using this form.