Infrastructure for Intelligence Part 2: Smarter Water Pipes for a Real-Time World

By David Armaah

Welcome back to the Infrastructure for Intelligence series – where we break down how the foundational layers of our cities, utilities, and health systems are quietly becoming smarter. Each edition explores one of the often-invisible networks shaping the real-time future of infrastructure.

In today’s feature, we turn our attention to water pipes—the vast underground systems that rarely get noticed until something goes wrong. But what if those pipes could talk? Across cities, utilities are deploying sensor-embedded, data-connected water infrastructure to detect leaks, prevent failures, and optimize water flow like never before.

Why Smarter Pipes Matter
Traditional water infrastructure is aging fast. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost daily due to leaks and bursts. Manual inspections and reactive repairs no longer cut it, especially as climate pressure, urban density, and resource constraints mount.

Smart pipe technology blends IoT sensors, pressure monitors, and AI-based analytics to give utilities 24/7 visibility into what’s happening underground. That means:

• Detecting leaks before they surface
• Optimizing pressure to avoid bursts
• Locating water theft or unauthorized use
• Planning predictive maintenance, not just emergency response

It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about water equity, resilience, and accountability.

Startups Making Noise Underground

Here are two standout companies turning pipes into intelligent infrastructure:

• Ayyeka (Israel/USA)

Ayyeka builds rugged plug-and-play monitoring devices that connect remote water assets—pipes, pumps, tanks—to a secure cloud platform. Their Wavelet units are used by utilities to track pressure, water quality, and asset health across harsh environments.

Why they stand out:
Offline-capable, battery-powered, and compatible with legacy systems, Ayyeka’s tools make it easy for even resource-strapped utilities to digitize without overhauling everything.

• FIDO Tech (UK)

Using acoustic sensors and AI, FIDO pinpoints leaks with astonishing accuracy, even in noisy or inaccessible pipe networks. Their algorithms learn to distinguish between “real” water loss and background noise, reducing false positives and manual verification.

Why they stand out:
FIDO doesn’t just alert you to a leak; it tells you how big it is and where it is, enabling fast, cost-efficient triage.

What We Learn
Making pipes smarter is about trust. When you can measure what’s hidden, you can manage what matters. Cities that invest in intelligent water networks are not only reducing waste, they’re gaining the foresight to plan, adapt, and serve better.

Because in the real-time city, even the quietest infrastructure has something important to say.

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