Underground Leak Detection Lanzarote
High water bill but can't see a leak? We specialise in finding hidden underground water leaks in mains pipes, irrigation systems, and buried pipework—without digging up your property to search.
Understanding Underground Water Leaks
Underground leaks are the most frustrating type to deal with. You know something's wrong—your water bill has skyrocketed, your meter spins even when everything's turned off—but you can't see anything. The leak is buried beneath concrete, paving, soil, or volcanic rock, completely invisible from the surface.
In Lanzarote, underground pipe failures are common. The island's volcanic geology means ground movement occurs regularly, stressing pipe joints. Many properties have ageing pipework installed during the building boom of the 1980s and 90s. And the combination of high water pressure, temperature fluctuations, and mineral-rich water accelerates corrosion in metal pipes and joint failures in plastic systems.
The traditional solution was destructive—digging exploratory trenches across your property until you happened to find wet ground. This approach caused extensive damage, took days or weeks, and still sometimes missed the actual leak. Modern detection technology changes everything. We can locate leaks to within centimetres, through any ground surface, without making a single hole until repairs begin.
Signs You Have an Underground Leak
Don't ignore these warning signs—they could be costing you hundreds every quarter
Unexplained High Water Bills
Your water meter running even when no taps are on is often the first sign of an underground leak. A significant leak can waste thousands of litres per day, turning a €50 quarterly bill into €500 or more. If your consumption has suddenly increased without any change in usage habits, an underground leak is the most likely cause.
Wet Patches in Garden or Driveway
Wet spots appearing on dry ground, or areas that stay suspiciously green when everything else is dry, indicate water escaping from buried pipes. In Lanzarote's volcanic soil, water can travel some distance from the leak point, so the wet area may not be directly above the pipe.
Low Water Pressure Throughout Property
A sudden or gradual drop in water pressure throughout your home or villa often points to a significant leak in your mains supply line. The larger the leak, the more noticeable the pressure drop. If only certain taps are affected, the leak is likely in a specific branch of your system.
How We Find Underground Leaks
Advanced technology that locates leaks without excavation
Acoustic Leak Detection
When water escapes from a pressurised pipe, it creates a distinctive sound—a hissing, rushing, or thumping noise depending on the pipe material, pressure, and soil conditions. Our sensitive ground microphones detect these sounds through concrete, asphalt, paving, and soil. We use acoustic correlators that measure the time delay between sensors to triangulate the exact leak position, accurate to within 10-20cm even on pipes 2 metres deep.
Tracer Gas Technology
For plastic pipes, very deep installations, or situations where noise interference makes acoustic methods difficult, tracer gas is the most reliable option. We introduce a safe mixture of 5% hydrogen and 95% nitrogen into the empty pipe. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule—it escapes through the tiniest crack, rises through soil and concrete, and is detected at the surface by our Gas Check H2 system. This method works on any pipe material and at any depth.
Pressure Testing & Isolation
Before pinpointing a leak, we need to confirm it exists and isolate the affected section. We systematically close valves and monitor pressure drop to identify which pipe run is leaking. For complex systems with multiple branches (mains, irrigation, pool), this isolation testing ensures we're focusing our detection efforts on the right pipes.
Pipe Location & Mapping
Before applying detection techniques, we first need to know exactly where your pipes run. Using electromagnetic induction and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), we trace pipe routes and mark them on the surface. This is critical because sound and gas escape patterns can be misleading if you don't know the actual pipe path—a leak might appear to be 2 metres to the left of where the pipe actually runs.
Our Underground Leak Detection Process
A systematic approach that finds leaks accurately
The first step is always locating your pipes. Using electromagnetic detection and Ground Penetrating Radar, we trace the route of your water supply from the meter or source to the property. We mark the pipe path on the surface because accurate pipe location is essential—without knowing exactly where the pipe runs, detection results can be misleading.
Next, we confirm a leak exists and isolate the affected section. With your internal stop tap closed, we check if the meter is still moving—if it is, the leak is between the meter and your stop tap. For properties with multiple water systems (mains, irrigation, pool), we systematically isolate each one to identify which system is losing water.
Once we've confirmed which pipe is leaking, we deploy our detection equipment. Acoustic methods work well for metal pipes and shallow plastic pipes. For deeper installations or plastic pipes where sound transmission is poor, we switch to tracer gas. In complex cases, we may use both methods for verification.
You'll receive a detailed report showing the pipe route, leak location marked on the ground, estimated depth, and photographs. We can coordinate with your plumber or recommend trusted local contractors to complete repairs.
Types of Underground Leaks We Detect
From mains supply pipes to garden irrigation—we find them all
Why Find Your Leak Now?
The longer you wait, the more it costs
Stop Wasting Money
Every day an underground leak runs, you're paying for water that disappears into the ground. Many customers see their quarterly water bills drop by 50-80% after repairs. A single inspection often pays for itself within one billing cycle.
Prevent Structural Damage
Underground leaks don't just waste water—they actively cause damage. Saturated soil can erode foundations, cause paving and driveways to sink, create sinkholes, and undermine garden walls. The repair costs from long-term leak damage far exceed the cost of early detection.
Minimise Repair Disruption
Without accurate leak location, plumbers resort to exploratory excavation—digging trenches across your property hoping to find the problem. Our pinpoint accuracy means a single, targeted excavation. One small hole, quick repair, minimal disruption to your garden or driveway.
Underground Leak Detection Across Lanzarote
Serving homes, businesses, and communities island-wide
Stop Paying for Wasted Water
Our non-destructive detection finds your leak fast—so repairs are quick and targeted.
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