Municipal Utility District Selects Electro Scan Inc. Using Its SWORDFISH Electrical Resistance Testing Technology to Assess Homeowner’s Water Service Lines

Westwood Shores Municipal Utility District is located in Trinity County, Texas, serving a population of over 2,000 people and 804 water service connections.

This project reflects Westwood Shores MUD’s commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance, and the continued protection of public health.”— District RepresentativeTRINITY, TX, UNITED STATES, February 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Westwood Shores Municipal Utility District (MUD) announced today the launch of a comprehensive Lead Service Line Identification and Inspection Project, an important step in ensuring long-term drinking water safety and compliance with state and federal requirements.

Sacramento, Calif-based Electro Scan Inc. has been selected as the sole source services vendor to complete the project.

Beginning March 2, 2026, the District will inspect 386 homes throughout Westwood Shores using non-invasive electrical resistance testing technology (SWORDFISH) to identify the material composition of water service lines on both the public and private sides of each water meter. The project is expected to take approximately eight (8) weeks to complete.

Water service line identification project in response to requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).

Westwood Shores MUD was originally developed in the early 1970s, a period during which lead and galvanized materials were still commonly used in water service lines across the United States. This proactive inspection effort will allow the District to accurately confirm pipe materials without excavation and update its service line inventory in accordance with evolving regulatory standards.

The project is being managed by Civil Grade Engineers, LLC of Houston, serving as overall project manager. Leadership for the effort includes Rico Rodriguez, President of Civil Grade Engineering, and Thalia Salas, Project Manager. Field operations and technical execution are being led by Shandon Baker, Field Service Manager, and Matt Campos, Vice President of Pressurized Pipes, under a formal project management agreement .

What Residents Can Expect

Typical water service line connection, including Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) eligible funding components.

• No excavation and no entry into homes
• Inspections performed entirely outside the residence
• Temporary water shutoff during inspection, followed by flushing in accordance with AWWA and TCEQ protocols
• Door hanger notifications delivered:
• Approximately two weeks prior to inspection
• A second notice one day before scheduled work
• Residents are not required to take any action for the inspection to occur

Each inspection surveys both the public side (from the water main to the meter) and the private side (from the meter toward the home) where applicable. Any service line identified as containing lead will be promptly reported to the District, and appropriate follow-up steps will be taken.

Statewide Context

In December 2024, the USEAP recognized ‘electrical resistance testing’ as the only commercially available technology able to identified buried lead pipe, without digging or excavation

.The initiative aligns with the State of Texas’ Lead and Copper Program, administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

TCEQ oversees 5,641 public water systems, encompassing more than 9.3 million service connections and serving a population of approximately 32.9 million Texans. Accurate service line inventories are a critical component of statewide compliance and public health protection.

Commitment to Transparency and Safety

“This project reflects Westwood Shores MUD’s commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance, and the continued protection of public health,” said District representatives. “By using modern, non-destructive inspection technology, the District can gather accurate information while minimizing disruption to residents.”

Additional project information, including inspection schedules and contact details, will be made available through Westwood Shores MUD communications channels.

About Electro Scan Inc.

SWORDFISH represents the first machine-intelligent probe that automatically detects Copper, Galvanized, Plastic, and Lead pipes, without digging.

Electro Scan Inc. develops and manufactures advanced inspection and diagnostic technologies for the water and wastewater industry. Its SWORDFISH platform uses machine-intelligent, low voltage electrical resistance technology to accurately identify and verify service line materials, enabling utilities to build defensible lead inventories and replacement plans in compliance

with federal mandates. Electro Scan’s technologies are used by water utilities, home inspectors, and real estate brokers, worldwide, to enhance water system integrity and public health.

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Janine Mullinix
Electro Scan Inc.
+1 916-779-0660
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ST. LOUIS, MO, UNITED STATES, December 2, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Electro Scan Inc., the global leader in machine-intelligent lead pipe detection, today announced a new exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Core & Main LP. Through its newly acquired damage prevention branches —comprising Green Equipment Company (Fort Worth, TX) and Eastcom Associates, Inc. (Branchburg, NJ)—Core & Main LP will distribute Electro Scan’s SWORDFISH solutions to municipal water utilities, contractors, home inspection, and real estate professionals across a 26-state region.

This partnership significantly expands access to the only commercially available technology recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for accurately locating buried lead service lines.

Helping Utilities Accelerate LCRR & LCRI Compliance

Under the agreement, Core & Main will market and support Electro Scan’s SWORDFISH Special Edition (SE) and SWORDFISH LeadTrace (LT) systems—two solutions designed to help utilities rapidly build accurate lead service line inventories and prioritize replacement programs.

Product Highlights

• SWORDFISH SE (Special Edition)
Lightweight, autonomous, and built for rapid in-field identification of service line materials, leak detection, and real-time digital reporting.

• SWORDFISH LeadTrace (LT)
A flexible, advanced probe capable of navigating more complex or longer buried lines for non-invasive identification of copper, galvanized, plastic, or lead service lines.

• Proven Results
More than 15,000 home inspections have been completed since launch in 2023, establishing SWORDFISH as a field-proven solution for fast, accurate service line assessments.

Leadership Commentary

“We’re thrilled to partner with Core & Main’s two branches focused on damage prevention,” said Mike App, Executive Vice President of Electro Scan Inc. “Their nationwide reach and deep municipal relationships make SWORDFISH SE and LeadTrace available exactly where utilities need them most. Together, we’re enabling faster, data-driven decisions that support safer drinking water and full LCRR/LCRI compliance.”

“Adding Electro Scan’s patented technologies to our portfolio strengthens our commitment to protecting underground assets and enhancing public safety,” said Gary Schafer, Core & Main’s Director, Damage Prevention. “Utilities now have direct access to the most accurate, field-validated solution for locating lead service lines—without digging.”

Growing Regulatory Pressure Increases Demand

Recent Electro Scan research presented at the AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference confirms that lead particles routinely adhere to copper and plastic pipes through biofilms and mineral deposits—making visual inspections unreliable. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require galvanized service lines downstream of past lead pipes to be classified as Galvanized Requiring Replacement, further increasing the need for accurate material verification.

Home inspectors, real estate professionals, and contractors are increasingly recommending service line verification during property transactions, given widespread inventory gaps and the high number of unknown or misidentified pipe materials.

Electro Scan Inc. is also a Vendor Member of InterNACHI^®, the world’s leading association for home inspectors.

About Electro Scan Inc.

Electro Scan Inc. is a global leader in machine-intelligent leak detection and buried pipe material assessment, providing patented solutions that deliver non-invasive, highly accurate data for water utilities, contractors, and property owners.

About Core & Main

Core & Main is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions for water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection in North America, with one of the industry’s most extensive distribution networks and deep expertise in underground utility protection. It has recently invested in companies specifically involved with selling damage prevention solutions, these branches , Green Equipment Company (TX) and Eastcom Associates, Inc. (NJ), offer specialized solutions and equipment for utility locating, buried asset protection, and advanced water infrastructure inspection technologies.

Janine Mullinix
Electro Scan Inc.
+1 916-779-0660
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
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Electro Scan UK Ltd, in collaboration with Clancy and Southern Water, used its patented Focused Electrode Leak Location (FELL) technology to deliver post-CIPP quality assurance across multiple wastewater sites. Traditional CCTV inspections often failed to detect defects behind liners or at joints. Electro Scan’s ES-400 system automatically identified and quantified defects in litres per second, revealing undetected leaks and verifying rehabilitation effectiveness. The project provided Southern Water with objective, repeatable data to validate lining performance, reduce infiltration risk, and support AMP7/8 outcomes—marking a step-change in QA/QC standards for sewer rehabilitation.

SOURCE: https://www.ukstt.org.uk/detection-location-inspection-award-finalists-2025/

Electro Scan Inc. brings their top water experts to Cal Rural Water Association’s Annual Conference to share their national expertise in inventorying water service lines.