Advanced Leak Detection Safeguards Water In Utqiaġvik, Alaska

In the remote Arctic village of Utqiaġvik, Alaska—where extreme winters and frozen terrain make traditional water system maintenance nearly impossible—the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) faced a critical threat: a persistent underground leak draining over 10,000 gallons of water per day. With limited manpower and no water production during winter, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Enter FCS and its advanced Tri-Corr Touch Pro Correlator and Hydrophone 2 system. These tools enabled technicians to isolate and identify elusive leaks in a complex, recirculating water network, even under layers of compacted permafrost. A multi-day, hands-on training empowered local operators to deploy these technologies effectively, improving real-time detection accuracy.

The collaboration resulted in the successful identification of a significant leak—without the need for costly, speculative excavation. Although further leak detection is ongoing, this first success represents a vital step toward securing Utqiaġvik’s precious water supply. As UIC managers noted, FCS’s precision tools and expert support were “game-changers,” offering a sustainable solution for water conservation in one of the harshest environments on Earth.