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Water Leak Detector

User Manual
Instructions, Functions and Warranty Information
 Copyright

Copyright © 2019 SubSurface Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of
the SubSurface Instruments, Inc.

Please contact SubSurface Instruments, Inc. to request permission for reproduction and use of this manual
for training purposes.

(920) 347.1788 www.ssilocators.com

 Table of Contents

General Information

Table of Contents................................................ 03 Using the Ground Microphone............................ 12

Introduction........................................................ 04 Advanced Settings.............................................. 12

Disclaimer of Liability.......................................... 04 Charging the Battery........................................... 12

Important Notices............................................... 04 Factory Service................................................... 13

Prepare for Use.................................................. 05 What's included.................................................. 14

Warranty........................................................... 05 Photos................................................................ 15

Technical Description.......................................... 06 Company Information......................................... 16

Version Summary................................................ 06

Unit's Structure................................................... 06

Basic Information................................................ 06

Safety Warnings................................................. 06

Technical Data Sheet.......................................... 07

Operation.......................................................... 08

Recognizing Differences in Sounds....................... 08

Adjusting Volume................................................ 09

Listening with the Leak Detector........................... 09

What Sounds Should I Heard.............................. 09

Accessing Filters................................................. 10

Setting Custom Filters.......................................... 10

Selecting the Correct Filter.................................. 10

Selecting Predefined Filters.................................. 11 Browsing Tip

Click on any Title to go to that page or
Affecting Factors for Accurate Readings............... 11 Click on the Footer to go back to
The Table of Contents

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 Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new SubSurface Instruments, Inc. Aqua Trac™ Water Leak Detector.
The Aqua Trac™ is specially designed to detect water leaks on buried pipes & conducts. This device will
detect water leaks through its highly sensitive microphone and advanced technology of its control board.
You have chosen a quality product that is designed for years of field use without the need for annual or
periodic calibration and service.

The basic principle of the Water Leak Detector's operation is as follows:

The microphone/sensor is placed over the ground surface or directly over the pipe, the sound created by
the water leak frequency is detected and interpreted by the Control Board and displayed on the screen
for the operator to determine the course of action.

To help ensure the best locating results, please read & understand the manual in its entirety before using
the product.

Disclaimer Of Liability

SubSurface Instruments, Inc. shall not be liable to Distributor, Re-Seller, or any other person for any
incidental, indirect, special, exemplary or consequential damages, or injury of any type whatsoever,
either caused directly or indirectly by products sold or supplied by SubSurface Instruments, Inc..

This manual contains basic advice for the operation of the Aqua Trac™. It is essential that the manual is
available for the trained operator to use as a reference. You must read this manual carefully.

• Do not drop the device, the electronic components might get damaged with strong impacts.
• Limits set in the technical data sheet must not be exceeded.
• Original accessories ensure the safe operation of the equipment. The use of non-original accessories
are not allowed and Void the warranty if used with this unit.
• Maintenance and repairs can only be performed by service centers authorized by SubSurface
Instruments, Inc.

Important Notices

WARNING! Failure to follow these warnings could result in serious injury or death.

WARNING! Only qualified and trained personnel should operate this water leak detector.

WARNING! Follow appropriate safety procedures, your company's policies and applicable safety codes and/or laws.

WARNING! Do not connect to utilities, cables or pipes without authorization and training.

WARNING! Use this tool for intended purpose only as described in this manual

WARNING! Do not expose to hazardous chemicals, hazardous gases or explosive environments.

This tool is designed to detect sound emitted from buried pipes and utilities. There might be water leaks on
WARNING!
buried pipes, and utilities that this instrument CANNOT detect.

WARNING! LOCATING is not an exact science. The only certain way to be sure of the existence, location, or depth of
buried utilities is to carefully expose (dig up) the utility.

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 Prepare for Use
Unpack your new Aqua Trac™ Water Leak Detector. Make sure there is no shipping damage and that all
parts have been included.

This unit has a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, please charge for at least 5 hours before use.

Note: For longer battery life and reliable operation under adverse conditions, use only supplied charger
and accessories provided by SubSurface Instruments, Inc.

Connect the Sensor/Microphone into the unit and ensure — by screwing the connector until the nut is secure
against the unit— that the connection was successfully made.

Be aware of the headphones volume, the level is set to medium each time you re-start the unit. Avoid loud
noises or hard bangs when using the unit on higher volume levels, failure to do so may result in permanent
hearing damage.

Register Warranty
This instrument is under warranty for 1 year (5 year*) from the date of delivery against
defects in material and workmanship. We will repair or replace products that prove to be
defective during warranty period.

*By registering your unit online at http://www.ssilocators.com/warranty-registration

within one month (30 Days) of purchase, SubSurface Instruments, Inc. will extend the
warranty period from 1 year to 5 years.

This warranty is void if, after having received the instrument in good condition, it is subjected to abuse,
unauthorized alterations or casual repair.

No other warranty is expressed or implied. The warranty described in this paragraph shall be in lieu of any
other warranty, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. SubSurface Instruments, Inc. will not be liable for consequential damages.

Scan the QR Code to Register Online

Please Fill out all of the fields on our online registration to keep better track of
your warranty and allow us to help you with any further questions or concerns.

SubSurface Instruments Team.

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 Technical Description
Version Summary
The Aqua Trac™ has all the necessary functions for the acoustic detection of water leaks in buried pipes. Through its potent
ground microphone, the noises can be heard directly from the pipe as well as on the ground. The noise level is displayed on
the equipment's screen in graphical form, as well as numerically. The unit identifies frequency of the audio collected which is
then transmitted into the headset, this process is an intrinsical part of the whole system. The headphones are equipped with
noise isolating features to allow the user to acquire the best audio possible to pinpoint the water leak location.

The Aqua Trac™ features several specific functions for the interpretation of the results:

• The filters can be customized to limit the bandwidth by setting high frequency and low-frequency parameters
(Ex: 100 Hz to 1200 Hz or 101 Hz to 2500 Hz)

• The sound level indicator represents the live audio with a graph and a numeric value on the display's screen

• The screen also displays the Battery Life indicator

Aqua Trac™ Structure

The Leak Detector's circuitry is housed in a engineered grade plastic shell. The keypad layout allows for an easy and user
friendly operation, even when the user is wearing gloves. The monitor features a backlit LCD screen with a clear display.

The connections to the ground microphone and headset are within easy access and can be turned on and off quickly.

Basic Information
The Aqua Trac™ Water Leak Detector is an electroacoustic sound listening device, the equipment registers the vibrations of
an object or pipe where a water leak is presumed to be found, the Aqua Trac™ produces a specific frequency that can be
found by a trained operator.

Some of the applications are locating leaks in water distribution networks and locating leaks in service and utility pipes.

Safety Warnings
• Do not use the equipment at excessive volume, this may result in permanent hearing damage.

• Do not drop the equipment, the circuitry and components inside of the casing can get damaged. The sensor/microphone
is also a delicate piece of electronic equipment, do not drop it or hit it, this can cause damage to the microphone
and internal connections and will not be covered under warranty. NEVER open the housing of the unit, this will also
automatically void the warranty.

• The unit leaves our facility in the original factory configuration, no need for calibration or special settings besides
options available on the menu.

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 Technical Description

Technical Data Sheet

Type: Electronic water leak detector with electronic sensor attached to the amplifier to find
water leaks on buried pipes or above ground meters & hydrants

Operating frequency: 0-3000 Hz (others on request)

Filters: 3 noise filters are pre-set in the unit and also can be customized by the user,
allowing infinite combinations using the buttons located on the unit's control panel

Amplifier: 65dB provides high performance

Ingress Protection Class: IP65 rated (unit & attachments)

Battery: Li-Ion Rechargeable, charger included

Battery Life: Up to 20 hours of continuous use (others on request), with multi-voltage charger jack

Display: Graphic LCD back-lit Display, graphic indication of the selected filter, sensitivity and
battery charge

Geophone Sensor: Piezo electronic sensor, high sensitivity and resistance with protection against
wind and weather. 5 feet (1.5 m) contact cable, rubber protected sensor base for
unpaved ground and impacts

Activation of Sensor: The sensor gets activated by pressing the keypad's MUTE Button, press the button to
transmit audio to the headphones, depress to mute the audio.

Sensor sensitivity: 0,7 V / g

Headset: Professional stereo headset with full over the ears soft pads. Impedance of 8 ohms

Volume control: Press the UP and DOWN arrows on the unit's keypad

Contact rod: Collapsible in 3 parts

Distortion: Less than 1% (1 mV)

Operating temperature: 0º F to 140º F (-17.8º C to 60º C)

Carrying Case: Padded case for shock and weather protection. Neck strap for field operation

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 Operation
Recognizing Differences in Sounds
Practice listening, find an exposed pipe that's connected to a working faucet, place the sensor over the pipe and listen with
the faucet shot off, now, open the faucet and listen to the sound of running water, you'll begin to recognize the difference
between the two sounds. You should use the information displayed on the screen as a reference for frequency and noise
levels.

Play around with the predetermined filters that come standard with the unit to learn how to isolate the sounds that are
important for the water leak detection.

Low Frequency Limit

Power On/Off Button
High Frequency Limit

Battery Life Indicator

Sound Level Indicator Volume Indicator

Predetermine Filters Settings

Custom Filter Settings

Increase Volume Power charger

Navigation Button Plug-in
Access Filters Access Settings
Navigation Button Navigation Button

Mute Button
Confirmation Button

Decrease Volume
Navigation Button

Headphone Sensor/Microphone Connection

Jack Connector

Follow the suggested steps to get your Aqua Trac™ ready for use in the field.

• Connect the Ground Microphone to the unit and secure the connection by tightening the threaded washer

• If you need to use the extension rod, thread it to the bottom of the sensor

• Plug-in the headphone jack to the unit.

• Turn the power on with the ON/OFF button located at the top of the unit.

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 Operation
Adjusting the volume
The Aqua Trac™ resets its audio to "Medium" every time the unit is turned off. When starting a new detection job, set the
volume to a comfortable level by increasing or decreasing the volume with the UP and Down arrows on the Keypad. Use
the Volume Indicator on the screen as a reference to determine your most comfortable volume level.

Decrease Volume

Increase Volume

Volume Indicator

Listening with the Aqua Trac™

After connecting the sensor/microphone and headphones, adjust
the volume of your unit, place the Sensor/Microphone over the
pipe or surface where a water leak is suspected. Press the trigger
to activate the sound on the headphones; as an alternative you
can also press the MUTE Button on the center of the keypad.

Listen on the same spot until you acquire a constant result.

MUTE Indicator

Mute Button

What sound are you expected to hear?

Every time the OK button is pressed you should hear sound through the headphones.

When you have the trigger pressed and you move from one location to another, you'll hear interference and uneven sounds
and bangs in your headphones.

When you are listening in an specific spot you should hear a uniform background sound.

The sounds picked up by the microphone will be increased or decreased by the type of filter you have your unit set to at
the time of detection and also by how much traffic and activity is around you at the time of the detection. Noisy construction
environments can be a little challenging to make a successful detection.

You might have to use the unit during evening hours or at a time of less outside noises for better results.

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 Selecting Filters
Accessing the Filters
To access the filters' screen, press the FILTERS Button (Left Arrow) on the keypad.

Custom Filters
Filters

Setting Custom Filters

Select the frequency you want to customize, the display has 4 customizable digits, increase or decrease the number on
each position to the desired frequency using the UP and DOWN arrows and navigate through the 4 digits with the LEFT
and RIGHT arrows, once you've reached the desired frequency, press the LEFT arrow until it selects the word RETURN,
accept the selection with the middle OK Button. Automatically, the Aqua Trac™ will make the necessary calculations locking
in the selected filter.

Navigate

Confirm
Selection

Selecting the Correct Filter

The selection of the appropriate filter depends on different factors such as pipe material, depth of the utility and conditions
of external noise; all of these factors should be taken in consideration when choosing the correct filter for the job.

These images are a graphical representation of the changes in the frequency depending on the selected filter.

Low Pass Filter High Pass Filter

Low Frequency: 0 Hz. Low Frequency: 600 Hz.
High Frequency: 800 Hz. High Frequency: 2200 Hz.

Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

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 Selecting Filters
Selecting Predefined Filters
The Leak Detector allows you to have multiple custom frequency configurations. However, it's recommended
for beginners to take advantage of the PREDEFINED FILTERS offered with the unit. The next table can be used
as a reference depending on the job and conditions.

FREQUENCY LOWER BAND HIGHER BAND

UTILITY TYPE 100 200 400 600 800 1200

Iron Pipes &

Carbon Steel

PVC Pipes

Service Pipe in HDPE

Service Pipe in CI

Factors that can influence the sound quality

• Whenever possible, take measurements at a time when there is little external sound that may interfere
with the detection
(e.g. foot steps, machines that emit vibrations, people's conversations, road traffic, etc.)

• Do not move the ground microphone during measurements.

• Always take several measurements to better qualify the suspected point of the water leak.

• Check the pressure of the water network, using a manometer, the minimum pressure required with this
equipment is 55 psi (plastic pipes) and 20 psi (metal pipes), because you won't be able to hear any
distinctive sound from a water leak without this minimum pressure. Very important, the greater the
pressure on the water network, the deeper a water leak can be found in the supply network and the
easier it is to find its location.

Note: Make some test measurements to get used to the outside or external noises and repeat the process
several times on the point where a suspected leak is located, this will give you a better understanding of the
sound that the leak produces against external unrelated sounds.

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 Using the Ground Microphone

The Aqua Trac™ can capture the noise collected by the ground microphone.

It is advisable to know the location of the pipe underneath the pavement or floor where you suspect there is
a water Leak, this will shorten the time it will take to locate the leak and will eliminate the need to have other
locators on hand (e.g. Pipe and Cable Locator).

If it is necessary to use a listening rod, or there is the need for a greater range of detection; it is possible
to extend the tip of the sensor and work the same as if it was a electronic listening stick. Screw the three
collapsible extension rods provided with equipment to the bottom of the ground microphone.

Advance Settings

The Aqua Trac™ allows the user to change advanced settings under the configuration menu, these settings
should only be changed by experienced users or under the supervision of technical support.

The available settings are:

• The level of sensitivity of the equipment. The equipment has 3 levels, Low, Medium and High, it is
recommended to keep this setting on medium, in order to optimize the use of the equipment.

• The language of the display (usually the equipment is supplied in the language of the customer's country)
the language can only be changed by SubSurface Instruments, Inc. technicians.

• The automatic filters. The product has filters permanently enabled in order to facilitate the customer's work,
which include filters for the electrical frequencies of 50 Hz and 60 Hz, as well as filters for frequencies
higher than 9000 Hz.

Charging the Li-Ion Battery

The Aqua Trac™ uses a rechargeable battery. To recharge the battery, simply plug the charger that is
supplied with the equipment in the unit's AC power input, located on the side of the plastic enclosure. Contact
SubSurface Instruments, Inc. if you have any problems re-charging the Li-Ion Battery

The total charging time is between 7-9 hours.

WARNING! Attention:
Never leave the charger connected to the device for longer than 12 hours due
to the risk of equipment damage, battery damage and loss of warranty.

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 Factory Service
The SubSurface Instruments, Inc. Aqua Trac™ was designed for dependable operation without
periodic adjustment and/or calibration. If, however, your Detection Unit is not working properly,
return it to the factory for repair. A RMA (Return Material Authorization) is not required, but there
is some necessary information needed to ensure your unit is repaired and returned properly. The
required information may be obtained by phone, e-mail, fax or through our website.

Telephone: 920.347.1788 or 855.422.6346

Fax: 920.347.1791
Email: info@ssilocators.com
Web: http://www.ssilocators.com/service

Send it prepaid to:

SubSurface Instruments Inc.

Attn: Service Department
1230 Flightway Dr.
De Pere, WI 54115 USA

We will repair and ship the instrument back, or advise you if the instrument is irreparable.
Note: There is a minimum charge for repair and handling for units not under warranty.
When shipping your instrument, be sure to include:
1. Your contact information: name, address, email and phone number.
2. A brief description of the problem.
3. A return shipping address & billing mail address & any special shipping instructions.

Packing Instructions:
Place the unit to be repaired in the original shipping carton, or equivalent sturdy container. Add
packing material around all sides of the unit. Seal the shipping container with strong tape. Failure to
package the equipment properly may result in a voided warranty. Mark the shipping container:

FRAGILE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

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 What's Included
The Aqua Trac ships inside of a hard padded case for shock and weather protection.
Includes:
• The "Aqua Trac" Amplifier • Electronic sensor with 5' (1.5m) of cable
• Headphones with 3.5mm jack • Collapsible contact rod (3 pieces)
• Magnet • Li-Ion battery Charger
• Shoulder strap • User Manual

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 What's Included

Amplifier Headphones

Collapsible
Contact Rod
Magnet

Sensor/ Microphone

Hard IP68 Certified ABS

customcarrying case included.

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 AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN FORCE
IN SUBSURFACE DETECTION & LOCATION

SubSurface Instruments is an innovating force that engineers, manufactures and

distributes high-frequency and magnetic locators, pipe and cable locators, water leak
detectors, leak correlators, bore hole gradiometers, pipe inspection cameras and specialty
locators.

SSI’s most recent innovation, the AML or All Materials Locator, locates buried PVC pipes, PE
Pipes, plastic or nearly any other subsurface object more efficiently than ever before. Using
patent-protected technology re-engineered by SSI, the AML detects buried PVC pipes and
almost every object that other locators can’t find.

SSI features a vast line of professional underground and underwater locator products
for every need including surveying, construction, ordnance removal, excavation and
exploration. Our customers from the petroleum, water, sewer, power, telecom, cable and
gas industries rely on SSI’s high quality and dependability to make crucial measurements
in the world’s most challenging conditions. SubSurface Instruments’ products are proudly
made in the U.S.A. and offer an industry-leading warranty.

Scan to go to our Website

SubSurface Instruments, Inc.

1230 Flight Way Drive

De Pere, WI 54115 USA

855.422.6346 toll free

920.347.1791 fax

info@ssilocators.com
www.ssilocators.com www.ssilocators.com

Revision 07/15/2019

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