Cost-effective Method for Detecting Water Leaks on a Large Rural College Campus

The goal of this research project is to determine the most cost-effective and efficient method to detect water leaks on a rural college campus. This was accomplished through studying previously established maps of the water pipe network of this college campus. Several possible water meter locations were assessed and examined to conclude whether a water meter would be feasible and helpful in those locations. Ultimately, three locations were chosen to install water meters. To avoid costly installation, the time transit ultrasonic water meter was selected. Many tests were completed to collect data of the campus’s waterflow network and to study the effectiveness of the water meter’s operation. Through a 42.5 hour sample of one of these tests, it was found that the instantaneous flow rate peaked at 192.8875 GPM and reached a low instantaneous reading of 0 GPM. In the end, the installation of these meters will be used to detect leaks in this water pipe network in the hopes of greatly limiting the amount of wasted water on the campus.