Smart Sensor-Driven Leak Detection and NRW Monitoring for Urban Water Networks

Objective: Develop a digital platform to detect leaks and reduce non-revenue water in municipal drinking water pipelines for urban local bodies.

Urban water utilities in India lose up to 40% of treated water through leaks, illegal connections, and under-measurement, resulting in significant non-revenue water (NRW) losses that impact city finances, water availability, and service continuity for citizens. This problem, critical for municipal water supply boards and Jal Shakti departments, directly aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and national water security goals.

This solution involves building a prototype system that combines low-cost IoT pressure and flow sensors, open-source GIS mapping (e.g., OpenStreetMap), and a central data analytics dashboard to enable real-time leak detection and NRW hotspot identification in city water supply networks. The approach leverages open data, affordable hardware, and digital mapping for actionable insights.

Key deliverables include: (1) an IoT sensor node design for water pipes, (2) a data collection and anomaly detection platform, (3) an interactive map-based dashboard for utility staff, and (4) a field pilot demonstrating detection of leaks and estimation of NRW on a selected urban pipeline segment.

Measurable impact includes early detection and repair of leaks, reduction in water loss, improved supply reliability, and data-driven NRW reduction. The solution is designed for scalability in small and medium cities, enabling broader adoption by municipal bodies and informing state/national water conservation efforts.