West Allis approves three-year water leak detection contract with Western Leak Detection
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Summary
The committee approved a three-year contract authorizing annual acoustic leak-detection surveys by Western Leak Detection at up to $18,500 per year. Staff said the annual program pays for itself by preventing roughly $48,000 in water loss identified in the latest report.
The committee approved a resolution authorizing the director of public works to contract with Western Leak Detection for annual water system leak-detection services, not to exceed $18,500 per year for three years.
Mike Brophy, a public works staff member, told the committee the utility previously ran leak surveys every three years but shifted to annual scans after reviewing the cost of lost water. "If we let those leaks go, it'd have been $48,000 for the year," Brophy said, citing figures from the current year's report.
Brophy described the vendor's work as acoustic leak detection that narrows the search area and then uses additional equipment to pinpoint leaks. "He's usually pretty pretty close within a couple feet," Brophy said. A committee member added that the vendor "listens to every hydrant" as part of the survey.
Committee members said other nearby communities use the same vendor and that the annual testing is reasonable compared with avoided loss. A motion to approve the resolution was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The resolution authorizes the director of public works to execute the contract; the council or committee did not add conditions or amendments during the meeting.
