Small City Tests Big AI Fix for U.S. Water Waste

Farmington's AI leap with FIDO Tech signals a smarter, scalable fix for U.S. water waste.

12 Feb 2025

The city of Farmington in New Mexico has begun using artificial intelligence to detect underground water leaks, becoming one of the first small US municipalities to deploy the technology at scale.

Facing prolonged drought and falling reservoir levels, Farmington has installed acoustic sensors and AI software from UK-based FIDO Tech. The system listens for unusual sounds in pipes and flags potential leaks before they become visible. City officials said leaks were detected soon after the rollout.

“This technology moves us from reactive to predictive operations,” said Farmington’s utility director. “We can now act before problems spiral out of control.”

The project has been supported by Meta, which is funding the initiative as part of its environmental programme. The company’s involvement helped cover costs for the municipal utility, which operates under the financial constraints common to smaller cities.

Across the US, water utilities lose billions of gallons of treated water each day, often through undetected leaks in ageing infrastructure. While larger urban systems have begun experimenting with digital monitoring, smaller utilities have struggled to adopt such tools.

Farmington’s initiative is being watched as a potential model. Supporters argue that AI-enabled leak detection allows utilities to reduce water loss without waiting for expensive pipe replacements. Experts said the case illustrates how civic leadership, new technology and private-sector support can combine to strengthen water resilience.

Challenges remain, including ensuring cybersecurity and integrating new systems with older networks. Analysts said proving long-term cost savings will also be key if similar projects are to spread nationwide.

Still, Farmington’s experience highlights how smaller municipalities may contribute to addressing America’s water crisis. As climate pressures intensify, utilities are under growing pressure to conserve resources while modernising critical infrastructure.