Satellite Leak Detection

Descriptions

To procure an ongoing service that has provided benefit during the POC phase, and will continue to provide benefit to support consumption and leakage targets. It is in use now and is helping UU maintain service above official drought levels. This is currently a tactical solution to support current requirements. A long term solution whether make or buy is being looked for 2026.

Technology Requirement

The requirement is to use SUEZ, in partnership with Asterras, to deliver a satellite-based leak detection service using SAR Band technology. This service is designed to identify underground untreated water leaks across our asset base with high precision and minimal disruption. 

This advanced technology enables: 

*Non-invasive, wide area monitoring of potential leak sites 

*High-frequency scanning to support proactive maintenance 

*Improved detection accuracy, particularly in hard-to-access or high-risk areas 

*Operational efficiency gains through early identification and resolution of leaks

In addition to the core leak detection service, the solution includes: 

*Provision of a digital dashboard and mobile application to: 

*Investigate and visualise Point of Interest of Interest (POINT OF INTERESTs) 

*Track leak detection progress and outcomes 

*Monitor performance improvements over time 

*Support incident response and resource prioritisation 

*Quantify benefits and efficiency gains from the technology

The dashboard and app are integral to the service, enabling real-time collaboration between field teams, analysts, and asset managers, and ensuring that insights from satellite scans are actionable and measurable.

The aggregated spend will be over £1million.

This was originally a Pilot Deployment, and the trial was conducted during 2024 - 2025 covering Tameside and the Wirral. The trial demonstrated high success rates in leak detection, prompting an expansion of the engagement.

While other suppliers were considered, none were able to demonstrate comparable capabilities or results. The unique nature of the SAR Band technology and the proven success of the trial made SUEZ the only viable supplier.

Unique Technical Capability: SUEZ, in partnership with Asterras, offers a proprietary SAR Band satellite leak detection solution that is not currently available through any other supplier. This technology has been proven to detect subsurface treated water leaks with high precision, even in challenging terrains and urban environments. 

There is no existing framework agreement or contract that covers this specific type of satellite-based leak detection service. Traditional leak detection methods available through existing frameworks do not offer the same level of coverage, accuracy, or technological innovation.