The Key to locating a leak, whether large or small, is the ability to control variables in a building that might contribute to water flow.  This means, that in order to successfully locate a leak in any type of a building, we must be able to isolate, and control, any device that may use water (sinks, drinking fountains, toilets, ice makers, coffee makers, refrigerators, etc.)

 The process starts by first shutting off the water at the shut-off valve (irrigation backflow).  The technician will then observe the leak detection dial on the water meter.  If any water movement is detected, then you know that there may be a leak at the irrigation water meter, and precise location and remediation of that leak is required before you can proceed any further. 

If no leak is detected between the shut-off and the water meter, you can then proceed to look for leaks in the field. During the inspection, you will first check the controller, followed by the valves, and lastly the sprinklers.  Turn on the backflow and proceed to check the following most likely sources of a leak:

1.  Check the controller - verify controller programming run times

2.  Open each valve box

3.  Feel for any soft or wet areas between valve boxes as you trace the irrigation system

a.  Looking for lateral breaks or seeping heads

b.  Looking for lush green, overgrown vegetation – including mushrooms

c.  Looking for blown-out soil, severe depressions, or erosion in the landscape

d.  Looking for out of place, standing water – check surrounding parking lots

e.  Looking for green, slimy curbs – fungus buildup

4.  Identify any other items that could be using continuous irrigation meter water:

a.  Cooling Tower

b.  Fountains with stuck fill valves

c.  Pools with stuck fill valves

d.  Pool pumps and associated pool equipment

e.  Hose bib 

f.  Outdoor bathroom building

5.  Sprinkler Station Check - Once the controller and valves have been tested, it's time to start checking sprinklers. Turn the stations on one by one. You will be looking for several indications of wasted water:

a.  Water geysers

b.  Floods around the base of the sprinkler heads – indicates a faulty valve

c.  Misaligned spray heads

d.  Water spurts between sprinkler heads – indicates a broken lateral line

e.  Flooded areas between sprinklers – indicates a slow, steady leak

f.  Spurts of water at the base of a sprinkler – indicates a broken seal

g.  Sprinkler line that sprays dirty water

6.  Check Underground Pipes – Perform a meter check, take note of the reading. Shut off all valves on the system, turning all water off that is measured by the meter. Wait several minutes and check the leak detector on the water meter. If the needle is moving, then it’s time to complete a pressure test and listen for the sound of running water.

a.  Turn the stations on again, one by one, starting with the one closest to the main pipe where water comes into your property.

b.  Look at the difference in water pressure (the height and size of spray) between the station closest to the main pipe and the one next to it. If there is any difference at all, it should be barely noticeable, lessening as you go further and further back into the property. Test all of the stations this way, comparing the water pressure of one set of sprinklers with those of the station after it.

c.  If you have a hidden leak, at some point there will likely be a noticeable drop in water pressure. This means that some water is leaving the pipe in that station before reaching the sprinklers. If the entire station is noticeably lower, the leak is probably fairly close to the beginning of that station. If it doesn't get lower until closer to the end, then that's where the leak is––near the end.

d.  Sometimes the water gushing through pipes will be loud enough that, if your hearing is good, you can actually hear where the leak is. If not, this is where your equipment comes in.