ATLANTA, Dec. 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Echologics, a leading developer of acoustic-based technologies for water loss management, leak detection, and pipe condition assessment, has enhanced its acoustic leak listening device, LeakTuner™, to increase the technology's ability to help utilities precisely locate leaks in water distribution pipelines without breaking ground or disrupting service.
The enhancement includes a wider range of frequency settings that municipal workers can choose from to further reduce both electronic "white" noise as well as ambient background noise when using LeakTuner to test for leaks. Using LeakTuner, workers listen for leaks through headsets that connect to acoustical sensors, which are directly attached to pipes, hydrants, valves or fittings. By reducing ambient and electronic noise, LeakTuner improves a user's ability to clearly hear leak sounds with reduced interference from background noise, so even relatively quiet leaks can be heard more easily on pipes of nearly all sizes and materials, including asbestos cement, copper, galvanized steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), concrete, ductile iron and cast iron.
"The level of noise created by a leak differs according to pipe material," said Marc Bracken, vice president and general manager of Echologics. "A leak on a plastic or asbestos cement pipe is relatively quiet and difficult to detect compared to a leak of the same size on a metallic pipe. By enabling users to adjust frequency settings to match leak noise frequencies of specific types of pipe material and eliminate background noise, LeakTuner provides municipalities with a non-invasive device they can use to detect leaks that other technologies may fail to find."
Echologics is a subsidiary of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA), a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of products and services that are used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of safe, clean drinking water, and in water treatment facilities. Water service providers across North America, and in Europe, South Africa, Asia and Australia have leveraged Echologics' technologies to prioritize pipeline rehabilitation and replacement plans, and reduce water loss on all classes of pipes, for diameters ranging from 4 inches to 108 inches.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, plan, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions and the following:
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the spending level for water and wastewater infrastructure;
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the demand level of manufacturing and construction activity;
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our ability to service our debt obligations; and
- the other factors that are described in the section entitled "RISK FACTORS" in Item 1A of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements. We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
About Echologics
Echologics is a manufacturing, service and marketing company dedicated to helping water utilities reduce water loss with subsequent benefits in monetary, environmental and health costs to the communities. Echologics is a leader in the development of water infrastructure diagnostic technologies for water loss management, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. Echologics, LLC is an affiliate of Echologics Engineering which was founded in 2003 and is based in Toronto. For more information about Echologics, visit www.echologics.com.
About Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and manufactures and markets products and services that are used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of safe, clean drinking water and in water treatment facilities. Our broad product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters and ductile iron pipe, which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries. Net sales for the year ended September 30, 2011 were $1.3 billion and total employees were approximately 4,800 at September 30, 2011. The Company operates primarily through three segments: Mueller Co., U.S. Pipe and Anvil. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MWA. For more information about Mueller Water Products, Inc., please visit our website at www.muellerwaterproducts.com.