Dye Testing and Flow Monitoring in El Paso
Got water showing up where it shouldn’t? Is it pooling in your yard? Seeping into your basement? Perhaps it’s draining in a place it shouldn’t? There’s a problem, you’re sure… but you can’t figure out where it’s coming from.
We use dye testing and flow monitoring to determine what’s happening inside your pipes. These tests use colored dye to trace flow paths and monitoring equipment to measure the volume of water flowing through your system. There’s no digging involved. These tools can provide clear answers about where your water is going and where it’s coming from.
What is Dye Testing?
Dye testing is a straightforward way to trace where water is going in your pipes. To do it, we add a brightly colored, non-toxic dye into a drain or another entry point of your plumbing system, then watch where it shows up.
If our dye shows up in unexpected places, such as your yard or a storm drain, we know there’s a leak or a cross-connection in your system and can quickly locate it. The dye doesn’t damage anything; it washes away. In El Paso, your sewer line may be at risk of tree roots or shifting soil, which can cause leaks. Dye testing provides a quick visual way to confirm where your connections are and where your water may be leaking.
Flow Monitoring Tests
Flow monitoring is a test that measures how much water or wastewater moves through your pipes and the timing of that flow. We administer this test by installing sensors in your system that track everything that flows through them over time. Later, we can identify patterns and issues with this data that you might not notice otherwise. Flow Monitoring often helps you catch plumbing problems early.
The purpose of Flow Monitoring is to detect infiltration and inflow. Infiltration is the term used when groundwater seeps into your sewer line through cracks. Inflow occurs less often. You usually experience inflow when stormwater enters through poor connections or open cleanouts. Both infiltration and inflow can overload your system, leading to sewer backups.
The data you get from flow monitoring shows you what’s happening underground, so you’re not relying on guesses, and it is also often required for city compliance and commercial inspections.
Do You Need Dye Testing or Flow Monitoring?
Dye Testing works for these situations:
- Water is pooling in your yard
- You suspect a drain connects to the wrong line
- Smoke testing identified a problem, and you need to confirm the source
Flow monitoring is helpful when:
- Your sewer backs up every time it rains
- You need data for city compliance or a commercial inspection
- You want to know whether groundwater is entering your system
Not sure which one you need? We’re here to help you figure it out.
Benefits of Dye Testing & Flow Monitoring
Both tests provide clear data and solid answers without digging into or cutting into your walls.
Dye testing provides visual proof of suspected leaks. You see precisely where the water goes and where the problem is.
Flow monitoring also gives you hard data. This test provides data showing how much water is moving through your pipes and when.
Both of these tests can be used to confirm results from other tests. For instance, sometimes a camera inspection or smoke test raises questions. Dye testing or flow monitoring can provide additional data to help answer those questions.
Also, if you need documentation for the City of El Paso or a commercial inspection, flow monitoring data is the standard method.
Get Answers About Your Sewer System
If water is showing up or disappearing unexpectedly, we can help you figure out why. Don’t waste time wondering what is wrong. Dye testing and flow monitoring will give you real answers.
U.T. Trenchless has been solving these plumbing problems in El Paso for three generations. Give us a call and let’s get to the bottom of it.