AI Helps U.S. Utilities Plug Leaks and Save Millions

AI tools are helping U.S. utilities spot leaks, cut water loss, and modernize aging systems

12 Dec 2025

A growing number of US water utilities are using artificial intelligence to tackle a long-standing problem: water lost through aging pipes and unseen leaks beneath city streets.

Utilities are deploying AI-based monitoring systems that use acoustic sensors to detect the sound of leaking water and software that analyses data continuously. The technology allows operators to identify problems earlier, rather than responding only after visible failures such as sinkholes or service disruptions.

The shift marks a change in how water loss is managed. Leakage has often been treated as an unavoidable cost of running old networks. AI tools are encouraging utilities to measure losses more precisely and target repairs where they are most effective, reducing wasted water and limiting disruption for customers.

One widely cited case comes from Oldcastle Infrastructure, which has expanded AI-powered leak detection across several US utilities. In a Midwestern system, the technology identified a large underground leak that had gone unnoticed for nearly two years. Fixing it recovered hundreds of thousands of gallons a day, cutting costs and improving reliability.

Industry groups say such examples show AI moving beyond small pilot projects into wider operational use. Larger utilities, which often manage complex and extensive pipe networks, have been among the earliest adopters.

Other companies, including Xylem, are developing digital platforms that combine data from sensors, meters and control systems. These systems help utilities see where water is being lost and assess which parts of the network need investment. Supporters say the benefit is not only faster leak detection but also better planning of capital spending and long-term upgrades.

The trend comes as regulators and the public place greater scrutiny on water loss, particularly as climate change strains water supplies and debates continue over infrastructure funding. AI tools can support these pressures by providing clearer data to track performance and justify investment, rather than acting as formal regulatory requirements.

Barriers remain. Smaller utilities often face high upfront costs, staff training demands and concerns about data security. Even so, adoption is spreading. As systems become more common, utilities are using AI to improve efficiency and resilience, reshaping how the US water sector manages its aging infrastructure.