Live & Online Summit - 29 & 30 April 2025 (Workshops 28 & 1 May)
Harnessing Next Generation Technologies. Making The Optimal Investments. Achieving Targets.
29 & 30 April 25, London, UK.
Harnessing Next Generation Technologies. Making The Optimal Investments. Achieving Targets.
29 & 30 April 25, London, UK.
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2025: The Year to Tackle Water Leakage on a Global Scale
Welcome to the Global Water Leakage Summit 2025—the ultimate international hotspot for benchmarking and networking in water utilities. Across the globe, water companies are feeling the heat, not just from rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns but from the mounting regulatory pressures to slash leakage rates. Whether public or private, everyone’s on the same mission: reduce water loss and fast!
From Aging Infrastructure to Innovation: The Future of Water Leakage Management
As climate change tightens its grip, many countries are grappling with water scarcity, made worse by ageing infrastructure prone to leaks and bursts. But here’s the silver lining—collaborative research and pilot programs are pushing the envelope, refining cutting-edge leak detection and repair technologies. Even better, the cost of these innovations, from satellite imaging to advanced monitoring systems, is dropping, making them more accessible than ever for water utilities.
Spotlight on Innovation: Unveiling Global Water Leakage Solutions
So, what’s the focus of the Global Water Leakage Congress 2025? Our production team is on a mission to showcase the freshest case studies from international operators who rarely take the stage. With insights from around 35 water companies, we’re crafting a truly global event designed to tackle the unique challenges utilities worldwide face. Get ready for a summit that’s as diverse as it is impactful!
From the UK to the World: Pushing the Boundaries of Water Leakage Technology
The UK continues to lead the charge in water leakage innovation, but make no mistake—pockets of brilliance are popping up worldwide. Water companies everywhere are grappling with financial constraints and the daunting task of managing aging, inadequate infrastructure. The economic impact of water leakage is a universal challenge, especially in regions where every drop counts. That’s why the Global Water Leakage Congress is laser-focused on the latest technologies—like AI-enabled remote sensing, smart meters that detect leakage, and IoT devices—that have not only advanced significantly over the past 18 months but have also become more affordable. We’ll dive deep into how water utilities around the globe are testing and rolling out these game-changing solutions.
A Pressing Sense of Urgency: Supercharging Leakage Management in 2025
This year, the sense of urgency is palpable, particularly in Europe, where countries are pressured to navigate EU directives and increasingly stringent national regulations. The buzzword? Collaboration. Vendors and utilities are teaming up like never before, zeroing in on real-time monitoring, AI and data analytics to supercharge leakage management. But it’s not just about tech—building resilient infrastructure is now a must. These broader considerations are becoming the backbone of water leakage strategies. Expect our agenda to feature top-tier case studies that weave together these elements, showcasing how to build infrastructure that can withstand climate change and adapt water leakage approaches accordingly.
The Real World of Water Leakage: Skills, Training, and Strategy
Over half of the water companies we’ve spoken to face the gritty realities of delivering a water leakage strategy. It’s not rocket science, but it does require serious know-how: enhancing technical skills, providing robust training, and building capacity for the next generation of water professionals. The appetite to learn and share best practices is stronger than ever, and our event is the place to do just that.
Tailored Strategies: Navigating Regional Challenges in Leakage Management
Different regions are carving out their visions for the future. How are water utilities modernising networks in urban areas while juggling financial constraints and regulatory pressures? The conversation concerns the need to customise water leakage strategies for various systems—the densely populated urban hubs with deeper pockets or the rural, water-scarce regions like Spain, Southern Portugal, and parts of the Middle East.
Fulfilling the Mission: Engaging and Impactful Water Leakage Strategies
Our mission for this event is crystal clear: deliver an engaging, impactful agenda that truly serves the needs of water utilities. This has always been our production team’s strategy. We’re also laser-focused on providing powerful business development opportunities for vendors. By showcasing a diverse array of case studies from different regions and scenarios, we’re tackling the universal challenges that water utilities face. Plus, by introducing new companies and perspectives, we’re creating fresh opportunities for everyone involved. This isn’t just another conference—it’s a platform for new voices and innovative solutions, bringing together both public and private water utilities.
The Universal Challenge: Managing Water Leakage in All Climates
Water leakage isn’t just a problem in dry regions—it’s a critical issue even in water-abundant areas where infrastructure maintenance, waste management, and flood control are essential. For these utilities, controlling water leakage is key to balancing the entire system, right alongside smart water metering technology. While some utilities are charging ahead with smart grids, AI, and advanced data analytics, smaller utilities might need more support in building a solid business case. That’s why it’s crucial to include them in the conversation.
Urban and Rural: Crafting Holistic Water Leakage Strategies
It’s easy to justify water leakage technology in high-density urban areas with complex networks. Still, utilities tell us that solutions must be more holistic—calibrated for low-density areas and cost-effective for extending infrastructure to remote regions. These often-overlooked details are critical for rolling out comprehensive water leakage systems.
Case Studies in Focus: Not Forgetting Smaller Utilities with Limited Budgets
Expect to see case studies this year from small utility companies with limited budgets. What can smaller utilities learn from their larger counterparts? A key theme emerging from our conversations is how to adopt technology that delivers the most impact in the face of ageing infrastructure, financial constraints, and a shortage of skilled workers. We also need clarity on integrating these new technologies into existing systems without driving up costs—a critical focus for many presentations at the 2025 conference.
This is just a snapshot of the deep dive we’ll be taking at the 2025 event. We’ll keep the industry in the loop as our research campaign unfolds, but consider this your early notice: this year’s event is set to be a game-changer.
As we look ahead to the 2025 conference, water utilities—both private and public—are eager to explore the cutting-edge technologies that promise to reshape the industry. While we are still in the early phases of our research campaign, one thing is already evident: there is significant enthusiasm for learning about the latest innovations.
Through in-depth discussions with industry stakeholders, we’ve gained valuable insights into what utilities need from new technologies before they commit to investments or pilot projects.
Unsurprisingly, AI-powered leak detection remains at the forefront of interest. Utilities are particularly keen to understand how AI performs across diverse environments and how they can overcome the learning curve associated with integrating these systems. Many utilities approach AI with caution, partly due to the complexity of initial setup and the challenges of data integration—issues that have been highlighted as potential obstacles to success. The need for clear guidance on effectively adopting and implementing AI solutions has never been more pressing.
In water-stressed regions, utilities are starting to look at automated solutions for high-stakes situations, such as real-time leak detection and automatic shutoff systems. While these systems can offer significant benefits, they come with high upfront costs, and there are concerns about false alarms leading to unnecessary shutdowns. We will evaluate such innovations in an unbiased way at the conference.
There’s also significant interest in next-generation sensor technologies designed to replace traditional acoustic methods. These new technologies aim to pinpoint leaks with centimetre-level accuracy and deliver real-time data. However, they require specialised equipment and training—when many utilities are still grappling with the basics of data and AI integration.
For many utilities, the challenge isn't just adopting new technologies but integrating them into their existing systems. There’s also a concern about becoming overly dependent on a single vendor, which could lead to high service fees over the medium to long term. Expect valuable curated conversations on such perspectives.
This applies to a range of emerging technologies, including
· IoT-based continuous monitoring systems,
· AI-enhanced acoustic leak detection,
· Cloud-based leakage management, including fleets and water logistics
- Blockchain applications for water leakage
- Further developments in Digital Twins
· Advanced data analytics for predictive maintenance and repair prioritisation. While these systems generate valuable insights, they require significant data storage and skilled analysts to interpret the data effectively.
Utilities also evaluate how new detection methods—such as
· Ultrasonic,
· Infrared thermography, and
· Electromagnetic leak detection—perform in different climates and environments.
There’s also growing interest in
· Drone-based leak detection,
· Satellite-based detection, and
· Pressure transient systems as well.
The overarching theme for 2025 centres on introducing new technologies and their seamless integration into existing infrastructure. Highlighting how these cutting-edge innovations can be smoothly incorporated into current systems, optimise data utilisation, and offer clear cost justifications. The focus will be on practical implementation, effective adoption, and comprehensive workforce training, which will be at the core of the case studies and roundtable discussions we present.
As our ground-breaking research continues, we’ll inform you of the latest developments. Even after nearly 30 years in this industry, we’re still uncovering potentially game-changing technologies that hold the potential to transform water leakage management.
Utilities have asked: Can you help them configure AI algorithms to account for the specific characteristics of their water network, such as variations in pipe materials or environmental conditions? Are you able to customise your AI model for accurate leak detection in diverse conditions and provide ongoing support to refine the system as new data becomes available?
Can you provide customised sensor technologies and software adjustments to ensure optimal detection across different pipe types and conditions? Utilities have a variety of pipe materials and conditions that can make standard sensor configurations less effective. Can you help with this?
Deploying new technology innovations requires strategic planning and phased deployment. Are you able to help utilities navigate varying levels of accessibility and data integration capability when adopting new solutions? Can you assist with strategic planning and phased deployment?
For some water utilities, retrofitting IoT systems into older infrastructure can be challenging, particularly when dealing with outdated materials or legacy systems that aren't easily compatible with modern technology. Can you provide engineering and technical support to design and implement a retrofit solution that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure?
Can you help utilities deploy AI systems to enhance acoustic leak detection? If so, do you offer solutions that ensure accurate results can be guaranteed?
Utilities may have legacy systems with disparate data formats that are difficult to integrate into a new cloud-based platform. Can you help with data migration and integration?
