Acoustic Ground Microphone Technology (2024)

Learn the Basic Principles of Acoustic Water Leak Detection, & How the FCS DXmic Pro Water Leak Detector Works

Basic Principles of Acoustic Water Leak Detection Technology

To understand how acoustic water leak detection works, one must understand the interplay of following four factors: the different types of sounds water leaks make, the various factors affecting the sounds, how the sounds travel down pipes, and how the sounds travel through the soil. Each one of these factors is explained below in full detail.

1. The Various Sounds Water Leaks Make

Pressurized water lines with a leak often make one or more of the following sounds:

“Hiss” or “Whoosh” from pipe vibration and orifice pressure reduction.
“Splashing” or “Babbling Brook” sounds from water flowing around the pipe.
Rapid “beating/thumping” sounds from water spray striking the wall of the subsurface material.
Small “clinking” sounds of stones and pebbles bouncing off the pipe.

The “Hiss” or “Whoosh” sound, a constant static noise, is the only one of the four always present in pipes with a 30 psi or higher water pressure. The other sounds may or may not be present, and if they they are, they are usually not loud enough to detect. Therefore, when using a ground microphone to listen for a leak, one usually listens for the “Hiss” or “Whoosh" sound.

2. Factors Affecting the Sounds

The following six factors affect the loudness, or sound intensity, and frequency of the sounds:

a) Water Pressure - As shown on the graph below, the loudness of the leak is directly proportional to the water pressure inside the pipe (up to a certain limit):

3. How Leak Sounds Travel Down Pipes

Metal pipes, particularly iron mains between 6 to 12 inches, copper services, and steel pipes, transmit water leak sounds for hundreds of feet in either direction, but asbestos-cement and PVC pipes do not transmit the sounds nearly as far. Distances transmitted for the sounds of water leaks are a function of pipe diameter and pipe material. The chart below summarizes this relationship. Hence, knowledge of the pipe material and diameter is needed in order to determine how far the leak sound may be transmitted along the walls of the pipe.

4. How Leak Sounds Travel Through the Soil

As shown on the figure below, soil absorbs water leak sounds very quickly. High frequency sound waves are absorbed by soil to a greater degree than low frequency sounds. For a water leak in a pipe that is 6 feet deep, the “Hiss” or the “Whoosh” sound is weak and muted, so only the lower frequencies can be heard. Conversely, for a leak in a pipe 3 feet deep, the sound is louder and slightly higher in frequency.

The FCS DXmic Pro Water Leak Detector

The DXmic Pro, which is manufactured by Fluid Conservation Systems, Inc. (FCS), an industry leader in water loss recovery technologies, is an advanced, electronic ground microphone water leak detector designed to amplify the noise generated by water escaping from buried water pipes under pressure. Identifying the position of the loudest leak noise indicates the position of the actual leak itself. The DXmic system comprises a lightweight portable amplifier module complete with battery charger, options of wired or wireless (Bluetooth) headphones and an acoustically shielded ground microphone foot. As an optional extra, a hand-held listening probe is available. This comes with a tripod foot and two probe rods for sounding in soft ground. The DXmic has a touch screen LCD display and the advanced, easy-to-use features of the DXmic enable the operator to pinpoint leaks faster and with more confidence than ever before.

The audio processor also makes use of the following five digital filters:

Unfiltered Noise: Used for general reconnaissance
Pre-set Filter for High Frequencies Only: Used on metal pipes
Pre-set for Filter for Low Frequencies: For Plastic (medium density polyethylene [MDPE]) pipes.
Adjustable Filters – Bandwidth: The bandwidth of the frequencies allowed through can be adjusted
Adjustable Filters – Bandpass Centre Frequency: The position of the centre frequency can be adjusted

The processor is connected to a ground microphone that has a high-resolution, waterproof universal sensor with a contact microphone for meters and fittings, a ground listening plate with quick a release sensor, and a magnetic base for hydrants and valves.

The ground microphone allows for smart volume limiting, which includes continuous automatic volume protection that suppresses clicks, pops, and sudden loud sounds. The leak sounds feed back into the processor to create an automatic leak location index on the touch screen LCD display, providing visual evidence of the sound levels when the microphone is positioned over the leak. To clarify the leak noise, background or unwanted noise frequencies can be filtered out using a combination of the five digital filters listed above. There are two modes of operation--survey mode and minimum level profiling (MLP). In survey mode, the gain level can be adjusted for optimum volume and the filters can be adjusted to reduce unwanted ambient noise. MLP is performed by stepping along the line of the suspect pipe and recording the sound levels. The ground microphone is placed on the ground and the sample button pressed momentarily. The DXmic then records the minimum noise over three seconds. As each measurement is taken, the histogram graph is built up showing the difference between each reading visually and numerically, making noise level comparison a simple task for the user.

Surveying for a Water Leak with the DXmic Pro

“Water Leak Surveying” is the term applied to listening for water leaks when there is no obvious physical evidence of one. Every hydrant, valve, and service line is a possible location to hear the sounds of water leaks. Since the sounds travel along the pipe walls easier than they do through the soil, the technician first listens at hydrants, valves, and meters. As he or she gets closer to the leak, the sound gets louder. Once it has been determined at which of these locations the sound is the loudest, the technician is ready to commence “Water Leak Pinpointing" at this spot.

Pinpointing an Underground Water Leak with the DXmic Pro

“Water Leak Pinpointing” is the term applied to the process of pinpointing the exact location of a water leak. As shown below, when using an acoustic leak detection ground microphone, the exact leak location is usually the area where the leak sounds are the loudest. To perform this procedure, the technician moves the ground microphone across the water line in question and takes readings every 3 to 4 feet along its entire length, making sure not to adjust the volume control (since it must be held constant to make an accurate comparison of each increment). Once the technician moves close to the spot of the leak, it may be possible for he or she to pinpoint it by using hearing alone or, if listening is not sufficient, the visible display (meter) to find the area of peak response. Once the area of peak response is found, by either or both of these two methods, the location of the leak is marked out on the ground with pink paint and/or flags.

Advantages of Acoustic Ground Microphone Technology

Confirms whether or not a leak is present.
Quickest and easiest way to search for, detect, and pinpoint a leak.
Water service is not interrupted.
Works best on small diameter metallic pipes.

Limitations of Acoustic Ground Microphone Technology

Background noise can interfere with leak sounds.
Pressure must be high enough for the leak to produce a sound.
Maximum depth for pinpointing is 5-8 feet for 1-3 gallon per minute (GPM) leak.
Pinpointing over soft soil or grass cover is more difficult.
Pinpointing is sometimes only possible at night.
Difficult to find leaks in non-metallic piping.
Takes years of experience to develop an ear for hearing and pinpointing leaks.