Water leaks and main breaks are on the rise due to deteriorating water systems left unchecked. On average, these leaks run undetected for more than six months before it surfaces. The consequence of undetected leaks can be severe with up to 15–30% of treated potable water is lost through leaks.
Leaks create a distinctive noise as water leaves the pipe, with smaller leaks producing a higher-frequency sound and larger leaks having a lower-frequency sound. An acoustic leak detection device locates leaks by characterizing and differentiating leak sounds from those of normal water flow through the distribution system.