With approximately 300,000 vehicles traversing U.S. 95 every day, lane closures for infrastructure repairs can wreak havoc on commute times. So, when the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) suspected a leak in a pipeline running under the freeway, the utility employed innovative technologies to find and repair problem areas without disrupting commuters.
Acoustic sensing equipment picked up sound anomalies that indicated a leak in a water pipe buried under a section of U.S. 95. LVVWD engineers then used a Compact Pipe Ranger (CPR) to pinpoint the leak in the 20-inch diameter pipe.
The robotic pipe crawler moves through water-filled pipes from 8 to 72 inches in diameter which are too small or unsafe for human entry. Steered by remote control, the pipe crawler’s 360° panoramic camera provides high-definition images that geo-locate problem spots like leaks or failing pipe joints.
With more than 7,000 miles of pipeline in the LVVWD service area, this technology allows crews to inspect underground pipes without fully draining them, which conserves water, reduces water service downtime, and improves operational efficiency.
After locating the leak in the pipeline under U.S. 95, the LVVWD asset management team repaired the pipe with yet another innovative technology. The team inserted 1,000 feet of liner into the pipeline, which repaired the leak, bolstered the pipe and extended the life of the pipeline by as much as 50 years without having to tunnel under the freeway or dig through private property.
LVVWD engineers use many infrastructure technologies to ensure customers have a safe, reliable water supply. For more information about your water system, visit lvvwd.com.
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