pipe leak in wetlands Cancel The title field is required!

1. McDonagh Patrick

   
   8/10/2012 11:08 AM

   We have a irrigation leak on one of our pipes that run through a wetland. Any ideas on how locate it?

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   8/10/2012 12:08 PM

   Is there anywhere upstream you can put some blue dye in. Maybe depressurize and take off a head or put in through a quick coupler?

   
   
   
   
3. McDonagh Patrick

   
   8/10/2012 12:08 PM

   Thanks but will it turn my turf blue if I use a gallon of dye.

   
   
   
   
4. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   8/10/2012 1:08 PM

   But you might locate the leak and your turf will only be blue for a couple hours, if that.

   
   
   
   
5. Joshua Gehman

   

   1 posts
   
   8/10/2012 1:08 PM

   I had a salesman tell me about a leak he found by accident. He was injecting wetting agent into the system and the leak foamed out of the ground.

   
   
   
   
6. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   8/10/2012 1:08 PM

   Compressed air, just like when us northerners blow out the system?
   
   Find a quick coupler close , shut down the system and move some water until you find the leak?

   
   
   
   
7. Wahlin Scott B

   
   8/10/2012 4:08 PM

   How do you fix a leak in a wetland? Won't you be underwater?

   
   
   
   
8. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   8/10/2012 4:08 PM

   Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: How do you fix a leak in a wetland? Won't you be underwater?

   
   
   A cofferdam would do it.

   
   
   
   
9. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   8/10/2012 5:08 PM

   Patrick McDonagh said: Thanks but will it turn my turf blue if I use a gallon of dye.

   
   
   They have green dye. You could run a head or coupler downstream to clean out the dye.
   
   And don't listen to Andy if his suggestion involves propane and ignition sources.

   
   
   
   
10. McDonagh Patrick

    
    8/11/2012 5:08 AM

    Thanks for the responses they all have been kicked around between my Assistant and I. We will try the colorant first then the wetting agent and finally the compressed air so then we can look for green bubbles.

    
    
    
    
11. Spotts David A

    
    8/11/2012 7:08 AM

    I know you already thought of this but if it was me, when I found it I would sure as H E double hockey sticks, fix it REAL good. Don't want to be back there in a couple of years.

    
    
    
    
12. Wahlin Scott B

    
    8/11/2012 10:08 AM

    Clay Putnam, CGCS said:

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: How do you fix a leak in a wetland? Won't you be underwater?

    
    
    A cofferdam would do it.

    
    
    Do you have any pictures of this being done on a golf course?
    
    I am aware of two golf courses that are so close to the aquifer that more than half of their irrigation pipe is under water. (How did they install it?) One uses well points to dewater the area before starting a repair.

    
    
    
    
13. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    8/12/2012 12:08 PM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said:

    Clay Putnam, CGCS said:

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: How do you fix a leak in a wetland? Won't you be underwater?

    
    
    A cofferdam would do it.

    
    
    Do you have any pictures of this being done on a golf course?
    
    I am aware of two golf courses that are so close to the aquifer that more than half of their irrigation pipe is under water. (How did they install it?) One uses well points to dewater the area before starting a repair.

    
    
    No pictures. I have not done it but I did see one used years ago. 3/4" plywood was driven into the ground around the area to be excavated. The plywood was framed at the ends with 2 x 4s to allow the sides to be connected to form somewhat of a seal. The 2 x 4s were set back from the edge of the plywood. This allowed an overlap of the plywood. Once the plywood was in place the water was pumped out to a point which allowed a trench to be dug along all sides within the plywood area. The trench was dug approximately 1 foot from the plywood walls. The water that seeped thru the walls drained into the trench which was then pumped. This allowed the working area to stay dry enough to make the repair.