Could Satellites Help Tackle UK Water Leakage Rates?

Water leakage is one of the biggest issues facing the UK, with 19 per cent of water being put into supply currently being lost to leaks. A 3.7 per cent reduction in total leakage was recorded in 2023/2024, but leakage is still above the levels forecast in the water resources management plans for 2024 – something the government considers to be unacceptable.

While some leaks are inevitable, caused by wear and tear or damage over time, operational strategies (such as pressure management), network characteristics (such as the length of mains pipes) and customer base composition (such as rural regions or urban centres) can also cause problems.

Industry regulator Ofwat expects companies to reduce leakage even further before the end of this year, with rates set to be cut by 16 per cent – saving enough water to meet the needs of everyone in Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham and Cardiff.

However, water leak detection can be difficult, with many leaks so small that they’re barely a trickle and, thus, hardly noticeable until a spike in bills is seen. Leaks also take place far below ground, which can make both detection and repair tricky.

There are various strategies that are employed to find leaks across the network, including thermal imaging, acoustic tools, water meter logging, infrared technology, pressure testing, dye testing, ground penetrating radar, video pipe inspection… and even dogs that have been trained to sniff them out!

Now, however, new research is underway to investigate how satellites could help address the water leakage crisis, delivering faster, more accurate and more cost-effective monitoring.

Space Eye.

A team of researchers from the University of Wolverhampton, in collaboration with South Staffordshire Water, are leading the groundbreaking Space Eye project that features next-generation satellite technology, supported by £1.3 million in funding from Ofwat’s Innovation Fund.

The project will see a fleet of six low earth orbit (LEO) micro satellites built, launched and operated to detect leaks and unaccounted-for water with high levels of precision and efficiency.

The hope is that it will prove far more effective than traditional detection methods, such as tracer gas detection and acoustic monitoring, which are inefficient and labour-intensive, as well as being less able to locate high numbers of leaks per day and which cost between £250 and £2,000 per inspection.

Satellite technology is already used for leak detection, such as L-band radar and synthetic aperture radar, and detection rates have improved as a result but these cost a lot to operate and only have image refresh rates of seven to 14 days, both of which limit their effectiveness.

The Space Eye project will use the QUUB satellite platform, bringing with it benefits such as high frequency imaging, fresh data delivered every six hours, 2-5m per pixel resolution, AI-powered detection for enhanced accuracy, significant cost savings and global scalability.

Lead author of the study professor Mohammad Patwary, director of the university’s Digital Innovation and Solution Centre, said: “This Ofwat-initiated opportunity marks a major innovation leap for the UK, enhancing the water industry’s efficiency and infrastructure longevity, while creating a platform for critical sectors like energy, transport and telecom, positioning the UK as a leader in LEO satellite-driven innovation and productivity.”

How can businesses reduce water leaks?

For businesses, one of the biggest causes of unnecessary costs on water bills is leakage, whether they’re caused by accidental damage, bad plumbing or just general wear and tear.

The good news, however, is that there’s a lot you can do to reduce leakage across your site – and an excellent first step to take is to have a survey carried out, where the latest tools, resources and techniques are used to detect even the tiniest of leaks.

As well as saving your company money, you’ll also be able to boost your green credentials and be viewed more favourably by consumers if you prioritise leak detection and repair.

Gone are the days where we could take water supplies for granted and it’s by no means a finite resource, with climate change putting increasing amounts of pressure on resources – and we all have our own individual responsibilities to safeguard supplies for the future.

Finding and repairing leaks improves your business’s water management and reduces your water footprint, improving the efficiency of your operations, saving you money and ensuring that you’re doing your bit to protect the natural environment.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Switch Water Supplier team today.