Abbeville city worker uses unique, simple, way to find city lines

Technology plays a key role in nearly every aspect of life.
That is not surprising considering it is 2014. Yet with all the technology that is used in everyday life, it is two pieces of copper wire that still play an important role in the Abbeville utility department.
“A lot of the pipes in the city, we have records of their locations,” Abbeville Public Works Director Clay Menard said. “But there is no accurate way to identify where some of the lines expect for this tool.”
It doesn’t have a fancy name.
“We just call it a rod,” said Utility Water Foreman Larry Moore Jr. with a laugh.
How it works is pretty simple.
“It is really a magnet,” Moore said.
Moore will hold the two rods to locate water pipes.
“When I am walking and the two wires cross and make a perfect X,” Moore said, “X marks the spot.”
Moore will then spray paint to mark where the pipes are for contractors who will be working in the area. The mark is good for 18 inches on either side.
“It’s not 100 percent accurate,” Menard said. “It is close enough for whomever is coming to dig. That way they will know that there is a water line near that spot.
“It may be a 2-inch or a 10-inch line but they are going to know something is there and will dig with caution.”
Moore said many of the lines he works on are 2-inch lines.
“We have a lot of 2-inch lines and those are not on our maps,” Moore said of the city. “These (rods) really come in handy.”
The same can be said about Moore.
“Larry is the best one at locating pipes,” Menard said of Moore’s ability to use the rods. “I tried and I couldn’t get it to work.
“I used the same rod and tried it myself and it didn’t work.”
Menard said it is all about touch.
“You have to hold it a certain way in your hand that allows the rod to work,” Menard said. “If you hold it too tight it is not going to work. Then you also have to hold it just right, because if you don’t, the top portion will fall because it is longer than the part that is in your hand.
“It’s all about finding the right touch.”
Moore, who has been with the city for nearly two decades, said the ability to use the rods comes with experience.
“Years ago when I first started Paul Catalon would use them,” Moore said of the late utility supervisor. “I kept seeing him use the two copper rods. I asked him about them and he showed me how they worked. I just got into using them and when he passed away, I took over doing that job.
“I guess I got kind of good with them.”
The city does use technology to locate some pipes.
“The newer lines have tracing wire,” Menard said. “We can use a locator for those. Technology does allow us to use those locators. These copper rods are still going to be a useful tool.
“When you can’t utilize a locator, that is the only way of finding the lines.”