Public health officials, environmentalists, municipal engineers and the general public are now convinced that the abundance of pure fresh water in North America is becoming scarce. Problems of supply, pollution, contamination and waste water are only a few of the complexities faced by present day water managers. An emphasis must therefore be placed on conservation and the reduction of "unaccounted-for" water. The greatest economic loss to the water utility industry normally occurs in the distribution system. Even today surveys indicate unaccounted-for figures as high as 50 percent in some water distribution systems in North America.This paper underscores the urgent need to conserve our potable water resources by the reduction of waste water through effective leakage control programs. A brief history of instrumentation associated with the sonic principal of leak detection is reviewed. The factors contributing to waste water, the distribution network, as well as the factors affecting sonic leak detection, are discussed. The paper addresses both the advantages and disadvantages of sonic leak detectors and how electronic technology has overcome some of the disadvantages. Various types of leakage control programs applicable to a variety of system requirements are outlined.
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