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Council approves $28,965 purchase of utility tracer and acoustic leak detector for water division
Summary
Council approved Ordinance 29‑2026 to purchase a utility tracer and acoustic leak detection unit (Utilities Technologies) for $28,965 from the water fund; staff said the device can detect leaks under pavement and should last 10–15 years.
Council approved the purchase of a new utility tracer and acoustic leak detection unit for the Division of Water (Ordinance 29‑2026). Public service staff said the equipment, from Utilities Technologies (Lebanon, Ohio), includes one detection unit for $21,834 and an acoustic leak detector component for $7,131, totaling $28,965. Staff explained the device allows the department to locate utilities for safe excavation and to detect leaks beneath pavement without outside contractors.
Joe Shaw told council the department has historically paid outside vendors roughly $3,000–$10,000 per occurrence to locate leaks under pavement and that the new equipment would allow more proactive detection; he estimated a service life of 10–15 years for the unit. Council approved the ordinance as an emergency measure and appropriate funds already budgeted in the 2026 water fund accounts.
Why it matters: the device should reduce reliance on outside leak‑locating vendors, allow earlier detection beneath pavement and improve contractor and worker safety during excavation.
