Case Study: Dallas Water Utilities

The City of Dallas Water Utilities (DALW) currently draws its raw water from six sources: the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and Lakes Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, and Tawakoni. Due to population growth in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, DALW is bringing additional water sources on-line. One of these sources is Lake Fork. When the Lake Fork Raw Water Transmission Main is completed, it will be used to replenish Lake Tawakoni's water supply.

Phase I of this line had been previously installed, but had failed a series of hydrostatic pressure tests. The failure of the pipeline to hold pressure above 190 psi suggested the presence of high pressure leak(s). Operators attempted to locate these leaks using a variety of methods including: visual inspection (internal and external), leaknoise correlators, and excavation. None of these methods proved universally effective.