Finding water leak

Luckysasha

I have a leak somewhere in the water pipe that runs around our farm and haven't a clue about where to start looking for it. Basically the water goes through a meter then appears in the first field where a valve connects the old pipe to a new pipe that was laid a few years back (not by us so we have no idea of the run of it). Then it's all underground and only appears in each field at the drinkers. Everything I can see above ground looks sound as in no leaks. But the meter is constantly running. Anyone have experience of something similar and how was it located

_Brian

You could start and add stop valves to isolate each section, each drinker must be T off the main line, you could dig back along the pipe from the drinker and add a stop valve, that way you could turn them off one by one and identify which section is leaking.

There's guys with twigs say they will find the leak for you but personally I'd have more faith in an old woman pushing a shopping trolley with a wonkey wheel.

Last resort but maybe if your paying by the meter it would be worth it, is to get a leak survey crowd in, no idea of the cost though.

Luckysasha

Thanks Brian. Yeah I had that idea of sectionalising and seeing what results that gives me but from each drinker the pipe literally dives straight down 2 or 3 feet so I'm looking at bringing in a mini digger anyway but with 9 drinkers on the system that's a lot of work. I was hoping someone would come in and point to a spot in the field and say yep that's the leak. But hey wishful thinking

_Brian

If you trust a local diviner it you may want to try it.
I know there was a thread here some time ago about it and plenty have faith in it.

Heard of a case where the diviner failed to find the water and said it was because the person didn't fully beleice in divining, €70 anyway.

Water John

This is actually the best time of the year that you might spot a leak.

The grass around it will be greener than the rest, as in any wet spot. If its going with a while you might also have a bit of rush growing.

Odds are its one of the trough connections. So look near each one.

There is now a device call a 'Ferret' for finding leaks. Its a balloon type head with metal and a wire back from it. It is fed into the pipeline and stops once it passes the leak. This is because of differential pressure, lower pressure after the leak. The spot is then located with a metal detector.

A 'listening rod' might also find it. Put it to the pipe going to each through. If the leak is back at the near joint you possibly would hear it.

Google these two. Ferret looks the best bet.

rangler1

Luckysasha wrote: »

I have a leak somewhere in the water pipe that runs around our farm and haven't a clue about where to start looking for it. Basically the water goes through a meter then appears in the first field where a valve connects the old pipe to a new pipe that was laid a few years back (not by us so we have no idea of the run of it). Then it's all underground and only appears in each field at the drinkers. Everything I can see above ground looks sound as in no leaks. But the meter is constantly running. Anyone have experience of something similar and how was it located

you could try these guys,
http://www.midlandsleakdetection.ie/
i've used a leak detection crowd afew times, just can't find their information or contact details at tne moment, they were able to put the sensor on each drinker and eventually get that it was between two drinkers and then follow it along the ground

Water John

Here's a u tube on the Ferret.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVynqUVk-aA

or Google, water ferret finder.

Luckysasha

Thanks lads much appreciated. I will keep you updated

Night Nav

Luckysasha wrote: »

I have a leak somewhere in the water pipe that runs around our farm and haven't a clue about where to start looking for it. Basically the water goes through a meter then appears in the first field where a valve connects the old pipe to a new pipe that was laid a few years back (not by us so we have no idea of the run of it). Then it's all underground and only appears in each field at the drinkers. Everything I can see above ground looks sound as in no leaks. But the meter is constantly running. Anyone have experience of something similar and how was it located

Check up leaktrace.com the website seems to have a few answers and maybe he might point you in the right direction

20silkcut

I had this problem. Meter running constant could not find the leak. Went out and bought 500m of new heavy gauge pipe connected it up and have everything above ground. Problem solved.
Only hitch was the cold spell at the end of Nov but I brought the cattle into the yard for three days. Had them out again for another three weeks. This has not been a bad year for frost. Obviously above ground leaves you at the mercy of frost but it's hardly the biggest issue in this country.

Who2

Try a fitting half way and then you'll see which end the leaks at. Remember a new roll of pipes around 120 euro. You won't get much done on a digger for that money.

Sam Kade

If there is a leak you'll have lots of condensation on the outside of the pipe that water constantly flows through.

Luckysasha

I was looking at it again today. Even trying to figure out the run of the pipe is confusing. I am well used to tracing underground cables but there are instruments for that making it a lot easier. I reckon there is about 1000 meters of pipe in the ground so my first job is to locate the main line and cap any tee's off this. As far as I can recall the pipe was installed with a trenching machine instead of a digger. Any idea what depth the pipe would have. Even ploughed in with this machine

Sam Kade

_Brian wrote: »

You could start and add stop valves to isolate each section, each drinker must be T off the main line, you could dig back along the pipe from the drinker and add a stop valve, that way you could turn them off one by one and identify which section is leaking.

There's guys with twigs say they will find the leak for you but personally I'd have more faith in an old woman pushing a shopping trolley with a wonkey wheel.

Last resort but maybe if your paying by the meter it would be worth it, is to get a leak survey crowd in, no idea of the cost though.

Did you ever try water divining yourself? 9 out of 10 people can do it but non believers usually never try it. If you think that involuntary muscles in your hand moves the rods try doing it with the rods held in a two bottles one held in each hand, the rods will still move.

farawaygrass

Water John wrote: »

Here's a u tube on the Ferret.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVynqUVk-aA

or Google, water ferret finder.

Looks very interesting. Would it be able detect a dribble leak I wonder? Or a leak at a fitting?

Water John

It would have to be a reasonably sized leak as it works on pressure drop caused by the leak.

Tail painter

Is it possible to add a dye to the water? It might show up easily in the field

jimini0

We had a leak in a field a few years ago. we also didn't know the run of the pipe so we got local diviner to find the pipe and a two of us walked behind him sinking a piece of rod iron into the ground. It took a while to find it but we eventually found the soft spot. That gave us the general idea of where the leak was. No fancy equipment needed just patience

Attie

I'd start at the first trough empty a bucket of water out of it and time how long it takes to fill up, then keep going to the next one on the line do the same again and so on.
If the leak Is significant enough you should notice a drop in pressure this would indicate the leak is between these troughs.
If you get no joy with this I'd go to your local group scheme they should be able to give advice after all their job is water.
Hope this helps Attie.

mikeoh

Had the same problem myself , I got on to one of the local council lads and one of them came out with a listening bar and a clamp ...found the leak in 30 mins

hannible the cannible

20silkcut wrote: »

This has not been a bad year for frost. Obviously above ground leaves you at the mercy of frost but it's hardly the biggest issue in this country.

Turn the water off to paddocks not in use in winter and release any water in pipes and troughs , pipes won't split if there's nothing in them

ArKl0w

20silkcut wrote: »

I had this problem. Meter running constant could not find the leak. Went out and bought 500m of new heavy gauge pipe connected it up and have everything above ground. Problem solved.
Only hitch was the cold spell at the end of Nov but I brought the cattle into the yard for three days. Had them out again for another three weeks. This has not been a bad year for frost. Obviously above ground leaves you at the mercy of frost but it's hardly the biggest issue in this country.

Well you could have left the old pipe with the leak there and use that in the frost
Putting up with the leak for a few days would be better than housing
Go back then to the new pipe when the frost is gone

Attie

ArKl0w wrote: »

20silkcut wrote: »

I had this problem. Meter running constant could not find the leak. Went out and bought 500m of new heavy gauge pipe connected it up and have everything above ground. Problem solved.
Only hitch was the cold spell at the end of Nov but I brought the cattle into the yard for three days. Had them out again for another three weeks. This has not been a bad year for frost. Obviously above ground leaves you at the mercy of frost but it's hardly the biggest issue in this country.

Well you could have left the old pipe with the leak there and use that in the frost
Putting up with the leak for a few days would be better than housing
Go back then to the new pipe when the frost is gone

As I got a €1200 water bill taught me to watch the meter.
Checked 5 today.

Happy new year all 🺠Attie

Signpost

If you put a stop value on instead of feeding the drinker you should be able to isolate between which 2 drinkers the problem is. Just need the one stop value fitted to drinker 1 - check meter, hook up drinker 1 again and put valve onto drinker 2 - check meter * 9