HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 Acoustic Leak Correlator Agenda Item # 7
Public Utility District
CONSENT
To: Board of Directors
From: Mark Thomas
Date: December 15, 2010
Subject: Consideration of the Purchase of an Acoustic Leak Correlator
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
Board approval is required for purchases in excess of$15,000.
2. HISTORY
Each year the District experiences between 75 to 100 leaks on it's water mains and
service laterals. Eighty percent of the leaks are easy to find. Twenty percent require
crews to dig 3 or 4 exploration holes to find the leak. Acoustic leak detection is the
preferred method of locating difficult to find leaks.
3. NEW INFORMATION
An acoustic leak correlator is a tool that can be used to pinpoint the difficult to locate
leaks. It will help the District to eliminate digging multiple exploration holes for leak
location. The District estimates annual savings in excess of$27,000.
The correlator will also be used in the leak detection program to survey older water
system piping for leaks that do not show up on the surface. Once these leaks are
found and repaired, it will reduce pumping and maintenance costs to the District. This
represents an additional savings to the District.
The District issued a Request for Bid (RFB) for an acoustic leak correlator on
November 12, 2010. The bids were opened on December 8, 2010. Two bids were
received and the results of the bids are listed below:
Bidder Total Amount of Bid
Subsurface Leak Detection $31,000
Instrument Technology Corporation $36,000
Subsurface Leak Detection was the lowest responsible bidder with a total bid price of
$31,000 not including tax.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The source of funding for the acoustic leak correlator comes from the FY10 Public
Benefits Program. Ninety thousand dollars was set aside to fund wire to water
improvements. Forty-one thousand dollars of this amount was spent earlier this year
on well improvements and there remains a balance of $48,990.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Award the purchase of an acoustic leak correlator to Subsurface Leak Detection for an
amount not to exceed $31,000 plus tax.
Michael D. Holley
General Manager/ Water Utility Manager