Utility Service Group, which has served the water industry for over 50 years, has earned certification from NSF International for injecting helium into drinking water distribution systems to detect leaks in pipes and water supply components such as valves, fire hydrants, customer service connections and water meters. The technology allows water system operators to identify and locate leaks in all pipe materials and pipe diameters. 

NSF International, a global independent public health organization that writes standards and tests, and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences, and consumer goods industries, evaluated Utility Service Group’s technology to verify compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals — Health Effects requirements.

The NSF International standard establishes health effects requirements for the chemicals, the chemical contaminants, and the impurities added to drinking water from drinking water treatment chemicals. It requires a full formulation disclosure of all chemical ingredients and testing of the treatment chemical products so that trace levels of contaminants can be detected. 

The technology has proven to accurately identify and locate leaks in a single step. Unlike other tracer gas technologies, the helium process is implemented in live drinking water mains without the need to shut down, isolate, depressurize, or dewater the water supply system. 

“We are pleased that Utility Service Group has selected NSF International to certify the quality of the helium it uses in its leak detection programs,” says Dave Purkiss, general manager, Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Systems Program, NSF International, who led the development of the American National Standards for all materials and products that treat or come in contact with drinking water. “Communities can feel confident that the helium has been tested and complies with the stringent American National Standard for drinking water chemicals health effects.” 

Utility Service Group is the only company to receive NSF/ANSI 60 certification for helium. “This milestone enables the entire U.S. water market to benefit from this significant advancement in technology, and further demonstrates Utility Service Group’s leadership in bringing innovation to the water industry,” says Paul Meschino, senior vice president for Utility Service Group. 

The technology can be used in any size pipe, of any length, and any material. Consequently it is applicable for water distribution systems and transmission mains. The performance of the technology is not affected by background noise, electrical interference, low pressure, intermittent service, pipe material, water system configuration, pipe entry, or long distances between listening points such as valves, hydrants, or meters along the water lines which reduces the effectiveness of acoustic leak detection devices.

For more information on the technology, visit www.utilityservice.com. 

About Utility Service Group
Utility Service Group is a fully integrated professional service and contracting firm dedicated to providing sustainable products and services for potable water distribution systems and sewage collection systems. Services include GASB34 compliant asset management programs for potable water storage tanks, tank active mixing systems, chemical cleaning for biofilm removal within the tank or at the treatment plant, and in-tank aeration technologies to remove THMs. Network services for drinking water systems include valve and hydrant maintenance services, leak detection and non-revenue water solutions, GIS/GPS data integration and management, smart metering, and the unique ice pigging technology for cleaning distribution systems. For sewage collection, network services include capital investment planning and smart sewer cleaning solutions.