Water utilities adopt advanced technology to combat network leaks

Water utility companies in Central Europe are increasingly focusing on advanced technologies and specialized diagnostics to combat water loss and infrastructure issues.

In the Czech Republic, professionals are tackling the challenge of detecting micro-leaks within water networks. The shift toward plastic piping has complicated leak detection, requiring highly skilled diagnosticians to use specialized equipment to identify hidden leaks that can cause significant long-term damage compared to visible bursts.

In Poland, water companies are implementing digital solutions such as radio modules for remote meter reading. These systems allow for automatic data collection without physical access to properties, providing real-time information on water flow and pressure. Such technology can alert residents to unusual consumption spikes and help utilities identify leaks. For example, Zielonogórskie Wodociągi is investing in 18,000 remote reading devices, while other regions use night-flow analysis to reduce water losses, which in some Polish areas have been reported as high as 58 percent.