SA -Wasser to target main leaks with satellite technology

For the first time in South Australia, SA Water will prepare the use of satellite technology in order to predict leaks and breaks in the state's water network and minimize their effects on the community. The satellite attempt is part of the ongoing investment of SA Water in intelligent technology.

The study will use satellite images and monitoring to evaluate the floor movement over 820 kilometers underground pipes in the northeastern suburbs of Adelaide such as Athelstone and Rostor.

These suburbs are among the most susceptible to main water due to reactive soil conditions. These suburbs are in the Adelaide Foothills and have a unique combination of soil layers that change when they dry or dry out.

This development takes place during a current period of dry conditions in wide areas of South Australia, a problem that leads to an increase in water for the rest of 2025.

When assessing the floor movement, which is one of the central causes of water leaks and breaks, SA hopes to identify potential incidents such as future pipe breaks before they occur. Subsequent information collected by satellite technology is then provided with the operating crews so that you can manage the main repairs of the water capacity repairs.

The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Nick Champion, said: “We always want to be innovative and find new ways to minimize the potential effects of the main breaks of water.”

“Hopefully this new satellite technology test will help the crews to fix a mistake before becoming a bigger problem and saves time and money in future repairs.”

In the past two years, more than a thousand printed medicine and acoustic sensors have been installed in Adelaide, whereby plans for additional installations are to be realized by the end of 2025.

The intelligent technology used by SA water monitors acoustic patterns and changes in the water flow or the pressure to identify potential pipe cracks. In the past twelve months, over 250 leaks have already been recognized and treated due to these sensors, which help to reduce the potential effects on the community. If these incidents are overlooked, the water supply can temporarily interfere or disrupt important transit routes.

“With the ongoing dry conditions, the areas of Adelaide become more susceptible to water leaks and burns. The use of this new technology should help us reduce the effects on the community,” said Champion.

In addition to the satellite sample and intelligent networks, SA Water has set up additional operating crews to cope with the potential increase in the water main incidents due to the drier summer in South Australia.

SA Water also encouraged the community to report its leaks of theirs Website.