Leakage & Metering: Insights from a Two-Day Sector Deep Dive

💧 Day 1 at the Future of Water Leakage and Metering: A Deep Dive into Leakage

The opening day of the Future of Water Leakage and Metering event brought together sector experts, innovators, and strategists to confront one of the water industry’s most persistent challenges — leakage. With raw honesty, strategic insight, and emerging ideas, the day focused on shifting mindsets, enhancing system accountability, and reimagining the role of people, data, and technology in leakage reduction.

🌍 The Global Picture and a Cultural Call-to-Action

James Hargrave set the tone by highlighting the urgency of our water stress situation — the UK ranks 94th on the global water stress index, trailing even countries like Denmark (107th), which outperform us despite being water-poor. The key? Culture, innovation, and efficiency.

Hargrave urged a shift in thinking:

Innovation must be driven by people who are both 'polishers' and 'game changers'.

AI may assist, but it is human imagination, empathy, and adaptability that fuel true transformation.

We need readiness assessments for suppliers, and clearer tools like the Explorer Index (TICC) to evaluate leadership and team environments.

He also emphasized embedding people from the supply chain into water companies to create more collaborative, contextual innovation.

📰 From News to Nuance: Rethinking Regulation

Daniel Woodworth noted the lack of positive storytelling in the water industry and called for:

Longer-term leakage targets (3-year+) to avoid the pitfalls of short-termism.

Regulatory flexibility, allowing good-performing companies time to realise benefits before facing penalties.

A stronger and more impactful apprenticeship pipeline to futureproof the sector.

His statement, “Reduce leakage when it's drizzling,” called for a more proactive approach, rather than waiting for crisis moments.

🏗️ New Mains, Old Habits: Technical Gaps and Standards

Jo Parker brought a grounded, technical view on leakage caused by installation practices and materials:

PE pipes can be leak-free, but only if installed correctly — which they often are not.

A worrying lack of network metadata (e.g., pipe types, installation records, pressure test results) is hampering effective management.

Ofwat’s focus on “mains bursts” overlooks more insidious issues like fittings, ferrules, and supply pipes.

She challenged the sector to raise its game in:

Installation auditing (supported by apps),

Comprehensive record-keeping and pressure testing,

Recognising mains installation as a leakage issue, not just a construction one.

📐 Standards and Confidence in AMP8

Andy Godley emphasized the critical role of standards:

Hundreds exist, but few are used effectively.

There’s a significant knowledge gap in procurement around what standards apply and why.

A need for data-driven validation of manufacturer claims is urgent to ensure procurement choices are backed by evidence.

📊 Data Anomalies and the Fight for Accuracy

Abby and George highlighted how unaccounted-for water (UfW) and data anomalies distort leakage detection:

Gaps in metering, property assignment, and logging plague the system.

Illegal connections, customer-side leaks, and poor night-use allowances complicate assessments.

AI-driven insights into 24/7 businesses are helping refine data accuracy.

The duo stressed the importance of grassroots technical skills, not just top-down data initiatives, for long-term success.

⚖️ Inclusion and Industry Culture

Phil brought a compelling message: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) must not be left behind.

EDI is still viewed as a “secondary concern” under operational pressure.

Industry must shift from “do they fit our culture?” to “does our culture fit them?”

Long-term pathways and knowledge retention depend on designing for inclusion — by intent, not default.

🔍 Real Leakage vs. Reported Leakage

Leon and George zeroed in on metrics and metering:

Up to 50% of leakage found is through proactive real-loss detection.

Small, non-mains leaks around fittings dominate recovery campaigns.

Smart meters provide strong insight, especially in high-density areas, but complete coverage (100%) may not be necessary or sustainable.

Their approach: empowered technicians + smart tech + smarter contracts = best results.

🚀 Closing Thoughts: Metering as a Movement

Metering is no longer a technical initiative. It is:

A communications strategy,

A data backbone,

A behavioural nudge,

A financial strategy, and

A cultural reset for how we view and value water.

From MAS models to quantum leakage, from cyber resilience to influencer engagement — the future of smart metering is wide open. But one thing is clear: we must act now, and act together, to truly measure what matters.

After a powerful opening day focused on leakage, Day 2 of the Future of Water Leakage and Metering event turned the spotlight to metering — not merely as infrastructure, but as a tool for public engagement, behavioural change, data-driven planning, and long-term system resilience. What emerged was a rich conversation around technology, customer empowerment, and the evolving models for deploying smart meters at scale.

📣 Metering is Messaging: Putting the Public at the Heart

The session began with a rallying cry: smart metering is one of the greatest opportunities to connect with customers.

Tanya pointed out:

Many customers still think water is "free because it falls from the sky."

Metering presents a chance to educate, inform, and build empathy around water as a precious, effort-intensive resource.

While rollout is daunting, success will be defined by how well we bring customers along — not just to manage bills, but to shift behaviour and consciousness.

🏪 Revolution in Retail and Business Markets

Steve described the shift as a “smart REVOLUTION,” not a simple tech rollout:

The focus is on modernising unread and hard-to-reach meters — especially in medium and large-scale use cases.

He highlighted the importance of consistent regional rollout with clear communication ("upgrade" vs "replacement") and coordinated customer notifications.

A Central Smart Meter Reading Hub has been approved, with integration into the central market system by Summer 2026, ensuring standardisation and data visibility.

He added:

Wholesalers must share data efficiently to enable new tariffs, innovative services, and policy accountability.

GIS and meter location data need upgrading.

Lessons from the energy sector suggest that confidence in metering technology must be proactively built.

🛡️ Cyber Resilience in a Connected World

The importance of digital and operational security was addressed by Complete Cyber, presenting EVault — a plug-and-play cyber defence tool for treatment plants and smart valves.

With examples like the Norway dam cyberattack, the message was clear: smart infrastructure must also be resilient infrastructure. Real-time detection and secure reporting are non-negotiable for any modern water system.

🔄 Learning from Energy: Avoid the Pitfalls, Harness the Lessons

Andy, Nat, and Tanya urged caution and reflection:

Energy’s journey is filled with “scars,” and water must learn but not mimic.

Communication and consumer trust must come first — many fear meters, so benefits must be clearly promoted.

The lack of standardisation in data protocols in water (unlike electricity) was cited as a vulnerability.

Network design currently inhibits radio-based comms, which could impact connectivity.

They called for:

More influencer-led public engagement to build understanding.

Greater synergy between manufacturers and comms providers to ensure tech reliability.

Smart incentives (e.g., “free water during off-peak hours”) to help shape new behaviours.

📊 Data, DI, and the Leakage Link

Ken Cartwright reminded us that smart metering is inseparable from the leakage agenda:

Data gaps and meter issues contribute directly to DI (Distribution Input) uncertainty.

Aging meters, incompatible SCADA systems, and unmapped non-household usage distort leakage reporting and hinder decision-making.

The rollout must be supported by specialist technicians capable of managing large-scale metering systems.

🔁 The Debate: To MAP or Not to MAP?

One of the most provocative discussions of the day was titled: “To MAP or not to MAP?” — referring to Meter Asset Providers, long used in the energy sector to finance meter deployment.

However, the conversation evolved into something more forward-thinking:📌 “MAS” — Metering as a Service, or even “Data as a Service.”

Why the shift?

MAP models work well in energy, where the asset alone is the focus.

In water, the value lies equally in the data — from consumption patterns to leakage detection, to customer insights.

MAS introduces alternative funding models, spreading cost over decades, leveraging third-party expertise, and focusing on outcomes rather than just ownership.

💬 Diverging Views:

Doug flagged complexity around ownership and accountability — if a meter leaks, who fixes it? The MAP or the water company?

• Simon Bryant, however, argued strongly for MAS:
  MAS can resolve
  skills gaps
  and
  supply chain constraints
  . Proven in energy, MAS brings
  discipline, investment logic, and standardisation
  . With
  20-year payment plans
  , spending becomes predictable and scalable.

📉 Quantum Leakage and Conceptual Gaps

Jez Heath raised the notion of quantum leakage — leakage defined and measured in discrete units, allowing clearer allocations and more consistent reporting.

He asked:

Can quantum mechanics principles help us better quantify leakage?

How useful is this concept today — and what does the sector need to validate it?

His message: we need more clarity, more data, and more debate to turn theory into actionable insight.

💡 Final Thoughts: From Fixing Leaks to Fixing the System

The consistent message throughout the day was: we can’t fix leaks until we fix the system — culture, data, procurement, regulation, training, and inclusion.

Leakage is not just a technical or infrastructure problem. It is a systems challenge — and meeting it will require innovation with heart, leadership with vision, and collaboration across every level of the water sector.