Whether proactively replacing old equipment or investing in new technology, business professionals stay ahead of the competition through preparation and rapid response. The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) also invests in innovative technologies to help anticipate and solve problems.
When LVVWD suspected a leak in a pipeline running under U.S. 95, the utility employed several technologies to find and repair the leak without disrupting the 300,000 commuters traversing the freeway each day.
Acoustic sensing equipment picked up sound anomalies that indicated a leak and alerted staff to the problem. 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.
The pipe crawler transmits the images to LVVWD engineers, who quickly and efficiently assess the pipeline’s condition from the safety of a mobile control booth.
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 pinpointing the leak under U.S. 95, the LVVWD asset management team repaired the pipe with yet another innovative technology. Crews 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.
