From Surveys to Services: A Shift in Leak Control

European utilities are adding continuous leak services to traditional surveys, seeking steadier loss reduction and clearer regulatory reporting

27 Oct 2025

Europe’s water utilities are beginning to adjust how they manage leakage, adding continuous monitoring and service-based support to long-established inspection methods as regulatory pressure grows.

Rising targets to reduce water losses, combined with ageing infrastructure and greater climate-related supply risks, are prompting some utilities to look beyond periodic surveys alone. Rather than replacing existing tools, the emerging approach layers ongoing leak detection services on top of them, aiming to deliver steadier performance over time.

Ovarro, a supplier of water network technology, has recently repositioned its business to reflect this shift. Alongside products such as its LeakNavigator software, the company is offering managed leakage services that combine continuous data collection, analytics and expert oversight. The objective is to help utilities identify where leaks are most likely to occur and which failures will have the greatest impact, allowing repairs to be prioritised more consistently.

Leakage control has traditionally followed a project-based cycle, with specialist equipment deployed at set intervals. While effective, this model can leave gaps between surveys, during which new leaks may develop unnoticed. Performance improvements can also fade once programmes end. Regulators are now placing more weight on sustained reductions rather than short-term gains.

Industry specialists say the change is evolutionary rather than disruptive. “Utilities are not abandoning traditional methods,” said one water sector consultant. “But progressive operators are adding service layers that give confidence leakage is being actively managed and clearly reported.” Trials and partnerships with UK operators, including Southern Water, suggest that continuous monitoring can speed up leak discovery and prevent minor faults from becoming major bursts.

Market data points in the same direction. Research from firms such as 6Wresearch shows steady growth in leak detection and repair services across Europe, driven by tougher regulation, wider use of digital tools and the need for more resilient operations. Conventional equipment remains central, but service-led models are becoming a larger part of utility strategies.

The attraction is not only technical. Spreading costs over longer periods and reducing reliance on scarce in-house specialists can appeal to utilities under financial pressure. At the same time, service contracts raise issues around data ownership, governance and dependence on external providers.

While adoption remains uneven, early experience suggests that service-led leak detection is likely to play a growing role in how Europe’s water networks are managed in the years ahead.