Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21
TAPPEDBY WIRELESS
Small implement Used to Lo-
cate Water Pipe Leak.
SAVES time AND EXPENSE
Lead Pipe Punctured by Rat, Caus-
ing Great Waste.
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS LOST
TIME AND EXPENSE
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS LOST

A leak Of 10000 gallons Of water a
day from a hole in q lead pipe enter
ing house on P street has been dis
covered by the pitometer division en-
ployes Of the water department. The
investigation has shown that the leak
is to be attributed to thirsty rat
which chewed through the pipe to get
drink. Enough water to drown all
the rats in Washington has leaked
through that small hole at consider
able expense to the District govern
ment. 1t was discovered by a man in
the pitometer division. who was using
q new instrument. known as the wire
less pipe locator
Result Of Tests.
1t has been known that a big leak
was wasting water somewhere along
the pipe line in question. The tests
proved that the hole was located
somewhere near the house on p street.
Excavations showed that rat had
built ahis nest near the pipe and was
tapping the District water supply di-
rect without recourse to the. ordinary
spigot.
This leak Is one Of the first discovered
by the wireless pipe locator. one OF the
most delicate and ingenious cOntrivances
used by leak hunters in their efforts tt
correct pipe corroding. 1t enables leal
hunter to locate trouble without digging
ali over a mans yard.
The operator attaches wire to house
spigot and carries the same wire ou
through the yard and attaches it II
street hydrant, thus establishing ar
electric circuit through the wire and thu
underground service pipe. the location o.
| the latter being problematfcal.
Induction Coil and Telephone.
The LOCATOR itself is an induction col
with "a telephone receiver attached. which
the operator places between the wire jus
mentioned and the ground, and he car
ries the wire and the coil about the yard
| When the coil is finally held directly owe
the service pipe peculiar buzzing sount
Is heard in the telephone receiver. ant
thus the location of the pipe is establish
! ed beyond doubt.
More delicate is the detectorphone
also an instrument but lately employed
although less sensitive apparatus
was formerly used. 1t is an instrument
for magnifying and transmitting sound
and is SO sensitive that the ticking OF
q watch on q table twenty Ave feet ava,
may be heard distinctly, even amid con
fusion of noises. BY means Of thi.
i instrument the flow of water in pipes
is detected, and the operator knows tha
water is wasting somewhere IL there
is flow after all normal openings ar,
closed.
4 The pitometer instrument iself. yer,
elaborate and delicate cOntrivance, Ii
used for the purpose Of measuring tn,
flow Of water In pipes.
Save Enough to Pay Salaries.
The number of men employed by tn,
District government to detect and pre-
vent underground leakage OF Potoma,
water is twenty-seven men. and theil
salaries are declared to be doubly re
paid to the District by the savings the!
effect. Last year the prevention o
waste resulting from their efforts wa
labout 100000 gallons per day, o
nearly 81 per cent Of the largest dali,
tpumpage during the last fiscal year
The work Of the pitometer division
under Paul Lanham, and the gradua
Installation Of water meters Throughout
1.-The city are factors. 1t il claimed. which
will tend to decrease the largo pc
Icapita consumption. to say nothing o
1.-THE saving OF several thousands OF dol
liars yearly which can be used In tn,