Leaks in lined reseroirs are detected via monitoring technologies and inspection practices. One common method is water balance testing, where the volume of water entering and leaving the reservoir is compared against changes in stored levels. If losses are greater than expected from evaporation or seepage allowances, a leak may be suspected.
Specialized tools can also be used. Electrical leak location surveys pass a low-voltage current across the liner surface to identify points where water is escaping. Similarly, acoustic sensors or ground-penetrating radar may be applied to detect movement of water through soil beneath the liner. In some cases, dye tracing is performed by introducing a harmless colored tracer near suspected areas and observing if it seeps out.
