Advanced sensors, digital metering and predictive analytics are driving a new generation of efficiency in water networks through smart leak detection technology and data-driven system intelligence.
From detection to prediction
Australia’s water sector is entering a new phase of digital maturity. Where traditional leak detection once relied on acoustic listening and manual monitoring, utilities are now using high-frequency sensors, data analytics and artificial intelligence to predict failures before they occur.
At the Innovation, Technology and Digital Solutions session, experts explored how these systems are being tested, refined and scaled across Australian and global networks.
Jake Tiller, Asset Performance Engineer at Water Corporation, said the goal is not simply finding leaks faster, but preventing them through integrated data management.
“We are using advanced sensors across high-risk zones and combining that with pressure and flow analytics,” he said. “It gives us the ability to detect microleaks that would otherwise go unnoticed for weeks.”
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Water Corporation’s pilot trials in Western Australia have shown how automated event detection can isolate anomalies in near real time.
“The accuracy and responsiveness have increased dramatically,” Tiller said. “We can identify pipeline distress before it develops into a full break, saving significant time, water and cost.”
Tiller added that the next stage involves building digital twins that model system behaviour under variable conditions.
“We can now simulate how our network will respond to temperature, pressure or hydraulic changes,” he said. “That moves us from reactive maintenance to predictive asset management.”
Data, fibre and sensitivity
Xiang Wang, Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, presented research into fibre-optic sensing systems capable of detecting leaks along extensive pipelines with unprecedented precision.
“Fibre sensing allows continuous, distributed monitoring along the entire pipe,” Wang said. “It provides spatial accuracy within metres and can identify not only leaks, but vibration and strain changes that indicate developing faults.”
Unlike traditional point sensors, fibre technology measures temperature and acoustic variations across long distances. Wang explained that the data collected can be processed by machine learning algorithms to classify different types of network events.
“A pressure transient looks different from a leak, and an air pocket looks different again,” he said. “The AI learns these patterns and helps operators respond with greater certainty.”
Wang’s team has been working with utilities to evaluate performance in buried pipelines under variable soil and flow conditions.
“The challenge is calibration,” he said. “Different materials and environments affect how signals travel, but we are now building models that account for that variation.”
He added that fibre sensing is particularly useful in high-consequence pipelines, where even small leaks can lead to major losses.
“The technology complements smart metering and satellite monitoring,” Wang said. “Together they create a multi-layered network of visibility.”
Machine learning for efficiency
From a commercial innovation perspective, Gustavo Corte Tedesco, Digital Solutions Manager at SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, explained how machine learning is reshaping operational analytics across both potable and industrial systems.
“We are now training algorithms that correlate acoustic signatures, flow data and pressure anomalies across multiple sensors,” he said. “This enables automatic classification of leaks, bursts and background loss.”
Corte Tedesco said one of the most promising developments is the integration of high-resolution flow meters with edge computing devices that process data locally.
“It reduces latency and allows operators to make decisions in near real time,” he said. “Our focus is on turning raw data into actionable intelligence.”
SUEZ has deployed its Aquadvanced® Leak system in several Australian cities, allowing utilities to reduce non-revenue water and streamline maintenance.
“The system combines field data with predictive models that highlight potential risk zones,” he said. “It’s not about chasing leaks after they occur. It’s about knowing where they’re likely to appear next.”
Global collaboration and validation
While Australia continues to pioneer localised solutions, international researchers are advancing complementary techniques. Dr Ricardo Cobacho from Universitat Politècnica de València presented work on hydraulic modelling and leak validation in European cities. His team’s experiments use benchmark datasets that allow utilities worldwide to test algorithms under consistent conditions.
“Validation is critical,” Cobacho said. “Many models work in one context but fail in another. Shared datasets allow us to compare performance and accelerate innovation globally.”
He highlighted that international collaboration could help Australian utilities benchmark their systems more effectively.
“Every city faces different physical and economic conditions, but data-driven leak detection unites them,” he said. “It’s a common language for network optimisation.”
Cobacho’s group has also explored integrating smart meters with distributed pressure sensors to improve calibration.
“When you combine hydraulic modelling with AI, you can simulate entire distribution zones and pinpoint unaccounted-for losses with remarkable precision,” he said.
The road ahead for Australia
The session concluded that while smart leak detection technology is revolutionising water management, its success depends on human and institutional readiness. Tiller emphasised that utilities must continue to invest in skills development.
“Digital transformation is not just about devices,” he said. “It’s about building data literacy and operational confidence across every level of the organisation.”
Wang agreed, noting that innovation requires collaboration between engineers, data scientists and policymakers.
“Technology gives us the visibility we need,” he said. “Now we have to ensure that governance, regulation and training evolve at the same pace.”
As Australia’s water networks continue to adapt to climate stress and ageing infrastructure, smart leak detection technology offers a pathway to greater reliability and sustainability. What began as a technical challenge is now becoming a cornerstone of resilient water management.