Water droplet

Acoustic Technology Saves Water

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April 30, 2020

Drip, drip, drip … If you stay quiet and listen closely, you can hear it. Water always finds a way, and now Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development has embraced a unique way to track it. 

“They listen to the water mains using acoustic methods,” said Brenda VanCleave, water engineer for FOD’s sustainability office. “They can pinpoint where there’s a leak within three meters of that leak.” 

As part of ongoing leak detection surveys, FOD has partnered with a third-party crew that mounts their equipment onto fire hydrants and listens to the water main between the hydrants to hear abnormalities through the flow of the water.

“With that, they can estimate the location and the size of the leak.” VanCleave said.

VanCleave and her team strive to meet the Ohio State’s sustainability goal to reduce potable water by 5% per capita every 5 years. VanCleave said they’re on target to reach that goal. 

“Ohio State has seen a 17% reduction in water usage on campus since 2013,” VanCleave said. “We want to conserve water as much as we can and reduce campus water usage.”

Through the leak detection survey, crews found leaks or cracks in pipes across campus, which VanCleave says are the primary reasons for wasting water. Ohio State has 40 miles of water lines across campus made up of various sizes, ages and conditions.

The survey uncovered two large leaks that were not surfacing. Crews eventually fixed the cracks, saving an estimated 50 million gallons per year.

We’re finding areas where water is being used and being wasted,” said Yousuf Yousuf, an intern studying environmental engineering at Ohio State. “I have an opportunity that many kids back home don’t have,” Yousuf said. “It encourages me to give back.”

Acoustic Technology Saves Water