In my biz, we have two ways of finding leaks in underground waterlines (and we're talking
sizeable pipes here, municipal lines from anything like 4" diameter on up to monster sizes).
Firelines, we call 'em.
One is by the use of the typical "sounding" electronic equipment (headphones + "leak detector")
like this one:
View attachment 950635
They're sometimes effective - and yeah, it takes someone with just that certain set of sensitivities
about them to be any good with them, at least when hunting small leaks.
Gushers of course are easy to find - sometimes you can hear those with the nekked ear. I'm pretty good
at spotting them by use of putting my ear up to fire hydrants and post indicator valves with a metal tool
of some sort, too. If the leak is near, I can hear it that way, same way I can "hear" water running inside
a buildings' piping from any point in the system.
Naturally, if a leak is making its' way to the surface, any knucklehead can find it, too.
Water companies typically have a man or two that have been designated their leak detecting pros,
with varying results.
Some of the bigger fire protection companies own their own equipment, too.
I've played with such equipment off and on for decades now; the equipment has definitely gotten
better over the years, but it still takes a trained ear to understand what you're hearing.
Now, that's all very technical and scientific-like, but as someone who has seen it used AND been
trained to use it more than once, I can tell you it's still a crap shoot about 3/4 of the time.
Now, about dousers....
I've only known a couple-three in my life that were what I would consider "legit" - not only did others
I knew and trusted report successes of these dousers, but I have witnessed them in action myself.
First thing you need to understand is NO, there is NOT literally "water everywhere". Not by a long shot,
especially in mountainous areas like out this way - so when these folks find water doing their thing,
it isn't just blind luck.
And they've nailed it every single time I've watched them do it. Every. Damn. Time.
The other thing that always struck me about these people is they are true "salt of the earth" types,
very quiet and unassuming, humble about their abilities, offering no explanation of how they can do it.
They learned very early in life, usually via a relative or parent, that they had the ability, that simple.
Again, I don't think it's anything divine in nature or supernatural - more like some of us are more
sensitive to certain aspects of our surroundings, some of us more sensitive to others.
It ain't witchcraft, it ain't Uri whatsisface - it's just the way they were made, which means there's
got to be many more out there with the same makeup who
could be a proper douser, they've just
never tried.
Oh, and those of you resorting to childish schoolyard insults and putdowns about this subject can
kindly kiss my lilly white ***.
