January 8, 2026
Beyond the Surface: Why Non-Surfacing Leaks are the Invisible Threat to Water Utilities
When most people think of water loss, they picture obvious problems: burst pipes, pooling water, or visible leaks. But for utilities, the real challenge lies underground.
Non-surfacing leaks—those hidden breaks that never reach the surface—are among the most costly and difficult issues to manage.
The Hidden Problem
Non-surfacing leaks occur deep within water distribution networks, often persisting for months or even years without detection. Unlike visible breaks, these leaks don’t trigger immediate alarms. Instead, they silently drain resources, contributing to non-revenue water (NRW): water that is treated, pumped, and delivered but never billed.
The consequences are significant, including:
- Financial Loss: Millions of gallons of processed water wasted, driving up costs and reducing revenue.
- Infrastructure Strain: Undetected leaks accelerate pipe deterioration, potentially leading to catastrophic failures.
- Environmental Impact: Wasted water means wasted energy for treatment and pumping, increasing carbon emissions.
Why Traditional Methods Fall Short
Locating non-surfacing leaks is notoriously difficult. Manual inspections and reactive maintenance often fail to catch problems early, leaving utilities to deal with emergency repairs and service disruptions. These approaches are not only inefficient—they’re expensive.
A Smarter Approach
Utilities need more than guesswork—they need predictive intelligence. That’s where CivilSense™ comes in. Developed by Oldcastle Infrastructure, CivilSense™ combines real-time acoustic leak detection with predictive analytics to identify leaks before they surface.
Here’s how it works:
- Predictive Modeling: Machine learning analyzes pipe material, age, soil conditions, and historical failure data to forecast which pipes are most likely to fail.
- Acoustic Data: Sensors are deployed to detect the subtle sound patterns that indicate leaks.
- Something Something AI I can’t think of a good bold text bit to go here: advanced AI analyzes the data against a reference library of over 2.3 million acoustic signatures to determine what is a leak and what isn’t.
- Actionable Insights: Utilities receive clear risk assessments and leak reports, enabling proactive repairs and optimized investment planning.
The Result
By leveraging advanced AI and acoustic technology, CivilSense™ helps utilities:
- Reduce non-revenue water
- Prevent costly emergency repairs
- Extend the life of critical infrastructure
- Protect communities from service disruptions
Non-surfacing leaks may be invisible, but their impact is undeniable. With CivilSense™, utilities can finally make the invisible visible—and stop water loss before it starts.
Learn more
- Discover the benefits of CivilSense™ and connect with an expert to learn more.
- Download a customized NRW Improvement report to share with leadership, perfect for budget reviews and approvals.
- Download the Product Sheet and discover how our acoustic leak detection technology helps utilities combat water loss, improve asset performance, and prioritize maintenance where it matters most.
