SAMCO, a Leak Detection/GPS Services Company, has been hired by the City of Horseshoe Bay to conduct a Leak Detection Survey and perform GPS Services within the Horseshoe Bay city limits. The employees of SAMCO will be wearing orange vests and driving SAMCO trucks. They will commence their activities on June 23rd, and will start in the area of High Circle West and Highway 2147 (and eventually continue through the entire Horseshoe Bay community).
Employees of SAMCO will be utilizing sophisticated equipment to listen on water meters, valves, fire hydrants, and on the ground surface to determine if an underground water leak is present. The electronic leak detection equipment receives and processes unique leak sounds (water escaping the pipe). Benefits of Leak Detection and Repair include: conservation of valuable water resources, cost-savings through reduction of treated water that is lost to leaks, reduced property damage from decreased water main breaks, and reduced risk of the leak process contaminating the water system.
In addition to Leak Detection, SAMCO employees will also be using GPS devices to accurately locate and identify valves and fire hydrants, so that these water system appurtenances may be readily located under emergency conditions. GPS – Global Positioning System – uses satellites and GPS (ground) receivers to identify locations on the surface of the earth, and this electronic data is then transferred to the city’s GIS (Geographic Information System); i.e., hardware and software used for electronic mapping of water and wastewater systems. These valve and hydrant locations can be easily retrieved from the city’s GIS, instead of attempting to rely on the knowledge of a city employee that retired last year.
In Fiscal Year 2008, the City of Horseshoe Bay Mayor and City Council approved the Leak Detection / GPS Services contract with SAMCO, with the goal of completing this project (evaluation of entire water system) over the next two – three years. Subsequently, the City of Horseshoe Bay continues to be a leader in utilizing technology to solve problems, enhance efficiency, and maintain cost-effectiveness for its Residents.