There is no correlation between air loss and water leakage owing to the physical difference between air and water and the difference in behaviour of air and water under pressure conditions. Someone may doubt the philosophy in using air leakage to test for water leakage in pipes.
For cracks and openings of capillary tube size, surface tension may hinder the flow of water while air would still pass through the minute cracks. Based on past experience, for pipes passing air test is deemed to have satisfied water test (infiltration or exfiltration). For pipes which fail air test, it should also be subjected to water test before considering any replacement or rehabilitation.
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This question is taken from book named – A Self Learning Manual – Mastering Different Fields of Civil Engineering Works (VC-Q-A-Method) by Vincent T. H. CHU.
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