Water leak detection with thermography and drone: how it works and what it costs
How to pinpoint leaks in water networks using aerial thermography, georadar and correlators: method, typical costs, ROI and georeferenced outputs for utilities and municipalities.
Italian water networks lose, on average, over 40% of the water they supply; in some areas of the South the figure reaches 60-70%. ARERA and PNRR funding are pushing utilities toward one clear goal: reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW). But to cut losses, you first have to find them — without digging at random.
How the diagnostics work
Leak detection doesn't rely on a single instrument, but on a combination of methods:
- Aerial and ground thermography — leaking water alters the temperature of the soil and surfaces: the thermal camera "sees" it where the eye can't reach.
- Correlators and geophones — ground-based acoustic analysis to confirm and pinpoint the break.
- Georadar (GPR) — to "see" underground: buried pipelines, utility lines and voids.
Georeferenced detection: no wasted digging
Every anomaly is georeferenced and pinned on the map with an ID, coordinates and severity. Crews arrive at the exact spot of the leak: fewer labour hours, fewer vehicles, road reinstatements kept to a minimum.
Typical costs and ROI
A diagnostics campaign generally falls between €3,000 and €20,000, depending on the size of the network. The return is rapid, because:
- repairing in prevention mode costs up to 10× less than emergency intervention;
- without monitoring, you pay 100% of the pumping energy even for the water you lose (up to 40% wasted).
Finding the leak with the thermal drone costs infinitely less than continuing to ignore it on your bill.
What you receive (the outputs)
- High-resolution georeferenced thermal maps.
- An anomaly catalogue (coordinates, severity, photos) exportable to GIS.
- Technical reports and, on request, a WebGIS dashboard with intervention history and KPIs.
From survey to continuous monitoring
The network changes over time. That's why we offer repeatable surveys (semi-annual/annual) that compare the network's states and flag emerging anomalies — also useful for documenting activities for tenders, acceptance testing and certifications. It's exactly the model applied in our CONSAC case study across more than 50 municipalities in the Salerno area.