How One Small Utility Made A Big Impact On Water Loss Using Satellite-Based, AI-Powered Leak Detection

How a small, drought-impacted utility uncovered hidden water loss and increased efficiency.

Like many utilities across the western United States, Santa Clara City Water Utility operates under ongoing drought conditions and increasing pressure to reduce water loss. To maximize operational and budget resources, the utility turned to satellite-based leak detection to prioritize inspections and identify potable water across their network. One 6-day field investigation yielded a total of 48 leaks with 9.6 leaks found per mile compared to the industry standard of .33 (a +2,089% increase in effectiveness) and 8 leaks found on average per day compared to the industry average of 1.3. (a +515% increase in efficiency).