June 2016 Technology Stream

3M EMS Rope

Utilities can now easily mark and locate underground plastic pipes with the Electronic Marker System (EMS) Rope 7000 series from 3M. The rope can be placed inside conduit or installed with pipe in horizontal directional drilling applications up to four feet deep. The EMS Rope continues to transmit a signal, even in the event of a cut or removal of a segment. It has a long life expectancy, is corrosion-resistant and is virtually maintenance-free. The 3M path marking technology in the EMS Rope Series was specifically developed to assist utility customers dealing with unreadable surface markers, bad or poorly marked facilities, unlocatable plastic pipes, and aging technology. The location system does not require a power source.

Aclara Acoustic Leak Detection with Remote Correlation

The Aclara STAR ZoneScan acoustic leak-detection system can cost-effectively identify, within a few feet, small, underground leaks before they become big problems. The loggers associated with the system are placed directly on valves along water mains and send data over the STAR fixed network to the utility, where web-based application software automatically correlates it and identifies and locates high-probability leaks. This approach simplifies acoustic leak detection, eliminating the need to send crews into the field for readings and providing the means to manage the process from the utility head end.