Underground Leak Detection in British Columbia

Underground leaks present a unique challenge because the leaking pipe is completely invisible, buried beneath soil, pavement, or landscaping. In British Columbia, properties with buried water service lines, private water mains, and extensive irrigation systems are at risk of losing thousands of litres of water daily through a single underground leak. The surface indicators may be subtle or non-existent — a patch of unusually green grass, a soft spot in the lawn, or simply a water bill that has doubled without explanation. By the time water bubbles to the surface or a sinkhole appears, significant water loss and potential property damage have already occurred.

LeakInspection.ca employs a multi-technology approach to underground leak detection that combines the strengths of acoustic correlation, ground-penetrating radar, and tracer gas testing. The process typically begins with a listening survey using ground microphones that amplify the sound of water escaping from pressurised pipes. Our technicians walk systematic grid patterns over the suspected pipe route, listening through headphones for the characteristic hiss, hum, or rushing sound of a leak. The approximate leak area is then refined using leak noise correlation, where two sensors placed at known access points along the pipe calculate the leak position based on the time differential of sound arrival.

For leaks that are too small to generate detectable acoustic signals, or where the pipe material is plastic and dampens sound transmission, we deploy tracer gas testing. The pipe is isolated, injected with a hydrogen-nitrogen mixture, and the gas migrating to the surface is detected with a sensitive sniffer. Ground-penetrating radar may also be used to map the pipe location and identify areas of soil saturation around the leak. Our comprehensive approach ensures that even the most elusive underground leaks are located, saving property owners from prolonged water loss, landscape damage, and inflated water utility bills. Service is available across BC's Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.