Latest news with #waterleaks
Zawya
7 days ago
- Science
- Zawya
The Technology Innovation Institute develops new drone technology to detect hidden water leaks from the sky
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has introduced a new application of its advanced drone-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This radar system uses high-frequency radio waves to create detailed, high-resolution images of the ground, to detect underground water leaks in urban and remote areas without excavation and ground removal. The announcement was made at the World Utilities Congress (WUC) 2025, underscoring the event's role in spotlighting innovative solutions for infrastructure and water security. Building on its multi-frequency imaging capabilities, this new application of TII's SAR system leverages P-, L-, and C radar signals– each one selected for its distinct advantages. P-band enables deeper subsurface penetration, L-band detects subtle fluctuations in soil moisture, and C-band provides high-resolution imaging of surface changes. Combined, these signals support the detection of anomalies and disturbances that may indicate underground water leaks, enhancing early intervention efforts in both urban and natural environments. Previously validated for archaeological and infrastructure use, the system is now optimized for sandy environments to detect leaks at depths of up to 40 meters, enabling utilities to identify and mitigate water losses from underground pipelines. This approach introduces a more efficient and sustainable way to monitor infrastructure conditions. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said: 'This latest application of our SAR platform reinforces its versatility in tackling real-world challenges. By enabling non-invasive detection of water leaks, we'll be able to equip utility providers with intelligence that allows early detection of water leaks, helping to conserve one of the world's most vital resources.' By identifying leaks early and accurately without the need for excavation, utilities can significantly reduce water loss, lower maintenance costs, and avoid expensive infrastructure damage. This proactive approach not only extends the lifespan of pipeline networks but also supports more efficient resource management, delivering long-term savings for governments, municipalities, and utility providers alike. Dr. Felix Vega, Chief Researcher, Directed Energy Research Center (DERC), said: 'SAR's effectiveness depends on how well we can extract signal from noise, especially in complex environments like sandy terrains. Our latest work focused on enhancing backscatter analysis and coherence metrics to improve subsurface anomaly detection. This has allowed us to push the limits of airborne radar performance in ways that weren't possible even a year ago.' Compared to conventional sensors, TII's SAR solution provides broader coverage, higher resolution, and consistent performance across various terrains and weather conditions. With its scalable architecture and modular drone integration, the platform is suitable for use by urban utilities, desert infrastructure operators, and sectors such as agriculture and disaster response. As the UAE strengthens its national water security strategy, this technology arrives at an important time. By reducing water losses due to leakages, the SAR platform contributes to operational efficiency and supports climate resilience and sustainable resource management, which are goals aligned with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 commitments. ABOUT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION INSTITUTE (TII): The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is the dedicated applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). TII is a pioneering global research and development center that focuses on applied research and new-age technology capabilities. The Institute has 10 dedicated research centers in advanced materials, autonomous robotics, cryptography, AI and digital science, directed energy, quantum, secure systems, propulsion and space, biotechnology, and renewable and sustainable energy. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions, and industry partners from all over the world, TII connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem that reinforces the status of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for innovation. For more information, visit
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Wolverhampton university tackles water leakage with AI satellites
University researchers in Wolverhampton have been awarded £1.3m to use AI-driven satellite technology to help solve the costly and time-consuming process of detecting water South Staffs Water, the team will build, launch and operate a fleet of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) micro satellites, which can find leaks "with unprecedented efficiency and precision".Using AI techniques with high-resolution satellite imagery, researchers said they want to deliver faster, more accurate and cost-effective monitoring of costs are projected to be at least 10 times lower than current satellite-based methods, the university said. Water loss is a persistent issue for the UK industry, with an estimated 19% of the supply lost before it reaches consumers, according to Water UK, costing £3.2bn annually across the utilities university said traditional detection methods, such as acoustic monitoring and tracer gas detection, are labour-intensive and inefficient, typically locating fewer than one leak per day per crew and costing between £250 and £2,000 per inspection. Other satellite-based technologies have improved detection rates, but high operational costs and image refresh rates of between seven and 14 days still limit their the £1.3m funding from water regulation service Ofwat's Innovation Fund, the team said they can create high-frequency imaging and have fresh data every six hours with sharper resolution to pinpoint AI-powered detection then reduces costs and enables rapid deployment beyond the UK, the university Mohammad Patwary, director of the university's digital innovation and solution centre (DISC) and project lead, 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, and positioning the UK as a leader in LEO satellite-driven innovation and productivity."The team will use six satellites as part of the project called Space Eye and liaise with several other water firms in the UK. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Boss of stricken Thames Water defends £195,000 bonus and admits mothballed £250m desalination plant should never have been built - as he warns over summer hosepipe bans despite surging bills
The boss of stricken Thames Water today insisted he deserved a £195,000 bonus despite customers facing surging bills - and the threat of hosepipe bans this summer. Chris Weston defended accepting the bumper sum after just three months in the role, telling MPs he had 'stabilised' the company. But he acknowledged the supplier is still facing huge problems, suggesting a non-functional £250million desalination plant should never have been built. Appearing before the Commons Environment Committee, Mr Weston was also grilled about the firm losing 56million tonnes of water every day to leaks. He said he was 'confident we won't run out of water', but added: 'I'm not confident yet we won't have to restrict usage. That will depend on what weather does and what rainfall happens between now and the summer.' Thames Water is in at least £16billion of debt and was left on the brink of a possible taxpayer rescue as it was in danger of running out of cash. It recently won court approval to take out as much as £3billion more in loans, in a deal designed to keep it running into 2026. Meanwhile, customers have been hit with 31 per cent increases in bills this year - with more pain to come. Annual average bill changes 2025/26 Company 2024/25 2025/26 Change (£) Change (%) Anglian Water £527 £626 £99 19% Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) £503 £639 £136 27% Hafren Dyfrdwy £447 £590 £143 32% Northumbrian Water £426 £506 £79 19% Severn Trent Water £457 £556 £99 22% South West Water (south west region) £520 £686 £166 32% Southern Water £478 £703 £224 47% Thames Water £488 £639 £151 31% United Utilities £486 £598 £112 23% Wessex Water £556 £669 £113 20% Yorkshire Water £467 £602 £136 29% Asked about getting a £195,000 bonus three months into his tenure last year, Mr Weston insisted remuneration was not the main reason he joined Thames Water. 'I joined Thames because it matters to society,' he told the committee. 'And I think that within the first three months I did make a difference. I started to put in place the new organisation structure, I started to give people confidence and reassurance about how proud they could be of the job they did and what we were setting out to do. 'And that helped stabilise the company. I think that was important.' Later he revealed that frontline workers at Thames Water were getting bonuses of between 3 per cent and 6 per cent. Asked what his own potential bonus was as a percentage, Mr Weston said: 'My 'on target' performance can be 156 per cent.' He added: 'I accept it is a lot of money and I accept it is considerably more than the front line. We try and… offer packages that are competitive in the market so we can attract and retain the people that we need within the business.' Mr Weston said the 'crisis' at Thames Water had been 'decades in the making'. 'The company and the management has got it wrong… but equally I think the fundamental problem has been with the regulatory regime,' he said. 'There's lots that goes right, it's absolutely necessary we have a regulatory regime. 'But the regulatory regime needs to attract investment, it needs to allow for companies of different types, operating in different environments, and with different cost bases and also for companies that might be in trouble that they can turn around and improve their performance. 'I would argue the regulatory regime does not do that at the moment.' Despite choosing investment firm KKR as the sole bid to invest in ailing Thames Water, Mr Weston told MPs it was a 'very fluid situation', with the possibility the company could still fall into public ownership. He acknowledged that hundreds of millions of pounds in penalties Thames Water faces for missing performance targets made it more difficult for a new investor to come in. Asked whether, if the current process with KKR fails, it would be too late to go back to other potential investors, or if it would result in a special administration regime, Mr Weston said: 'It's a very fluid situation but those both are possibilities.' He said it would depend on factors such as what the creditors would do, and added: 'There's no guarantee we would not stay on a market-led solution as opposed to a special administration, but it is a very fluid situation and those are all possibilities.' He acknowledged the huge desalination plant in Beckton, east London - intended to turn seawater into drinkable water - would not be operational this year, describing the site as a 'big problem'. 'I wonder why it was built in the first place,' he said. 'It's not a good story, it was not a good investment, there are no excuses about it.' He said membranes used as part of the desalination process are at the end of their life and could not be replaced because there is no testing facility in the UK for new membranes. Chairman Sir Adrian Montague said the company's financial situation had been 'hair-raising'. 'The fact of the matter is, as we've noted on several occasions, Thames in the last year has come very close to running out of money entirely,' he said. 'There were times in the last year that we had five weeks' liquidity – and running a £20billion corporation on five weeks' liquidity, honestly, it's hair-raising. 'We felt we needed to conserve cash.' Pressed on why Thames had shelved spending on some projects in recent years, Sir Adrian added: 'It was a funding crunch… I don't think we rode back on commitments. 'We understand that this is work that needs to be done, and there are many, many calls on companies' cash resources. 'We are having to prioritise, and we prioritised asset health and the routine expenses of the business in preference to this big capital project. 'We are still committed to carrying out that work but we can't magic money out of nowhere. 'Our problem is that this business had been under huge funding pressures ever since I joined (in 2023).' However, he denied Thames Water was a 'failing company'. 'It's not a failing company. It's a company in recovery. We are making progress,' he said. 'This is a good team. You can see how the progress is starting to become apparent.'
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Severn Trent aims to expand drone use to cut leaks
Drones could be used to rapidly track down leaking pipes when laws around flying them are relaxed, a water firm Trent Water, based in Coventry, already uses the technology to find leaks in hard to reach places but strict limits mean operators must be able to see them directly at all rules around drone usage from the Civil Aviation Authority, which could come into effect later this year, would mean the equipment could be flown beyond a drone user's line of sight for longer Trent said the drones, which includes an infrared camera to detect drops in water temperature on land, would make them more "efficient". "If we've got drones strategically placed across our network, we can then fly them out from the nearest location, that will then help us to achieve our leakage reduction targets," said Jonny Bevan, their drone safety officer. Severn Trent, which covers most of the West Midlands including Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, has committed to cutting the number of leaks on its network by 15% this year.A spokesperson for the firm said they were aiming to halve the amount of water lost through leaks by water company is currently trying out a drone in a box which is waterproof and can be controlled remotely."The most important thing is it's going to make us more efficient, so this is going to better utilise our time doing our drone operations which again, at the end of the day, gives us better value for our customers," added drone lead Duncan Turner. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
