Benicia To Conduct Survey To Identify Water Pipeline Leaks

The City of Benicia on Tuesday announced plans to employ a Seattle-based company to help locate leaks in municipal water pipelines, starting today and lasting through next Monday.

Utility Services Associates will conduct a survey to detect leaks in and around the city by walking over water pipelines with listening equipment that looks like modified metal detectors, city officials said.

This is the second time Benicia will use the company’s services, according to Benicia Public Works director Graham Wadsworth.

Last year maintenance crews repaired more than 100 water leaks found by Utility Services Associates, including leaks found in the city’s lower arsenal area, city officials said. The listening equipment is a cost-effective way to assess hidden water leaks.

There are more than 150 miles of water distribution pipeline going throughout the city, with some pipelines over 100 years old, and 9,500 water meters along the conveyance system, according to city officials.

Once the leak detection survey is complete, city officials said the leaks will be prioritized and Public Works maintenance crews will make repairs to them. Repairing the leaks will not only save water, but can also prevent costly water main breaks that interrupt water service and can result in damage to both public and private property, city officials said.

--Bay City News