Burleson satellite leak detection pilot yields $184,000 in projected annual water savings

Burleson satellite leak detection pilot yields $184,000 in projected annual water savingsA $73,500 pilot program utilizing satellite imagery and acoustic sensors allowed the Texas municipality to assess its entire water distribution network in under a year, a process that historically would have taken over seven years.

The 12-month contract with Asterra USA identified 33 utility-side leaks, preventing an estimated 67.6 million gallons of real water loss annually.

The $73,500 investment generated approximately $184,000 in projected annual savings from recovered utility-side water loss.

Wastewater network field investigations resulted in the rehabilitation of five manholes and the installation of 100 manhole rain guards to prevent inflow and infiltration.

City staff anticipate repeating the satellite scan process every three to four years based on the pilot's operational success.

The City of Burleson, Texas, has successfully concluded a 12-month pilot program utilizing satellite-based leak detection technology, significantly accelerating its infrastructure monitoring capabilities while generating a positive return on investment. Approved in January 2025, the $73,500 agreement with Asterra USA included two satellite scans of the city's 223 miles of potable water distribution mains and 226 miles of sanitary sewer collection mains, followed by acoustic field investigations of suspected leaks. Asterra's AI-powered technology utilizes L-band satellite radar to detect underground moisture, a method that earned the American Water Works Association's 2021 Innovation Award and has helped recover over 368 billion gallons of water globally. During a March 2 presentation to the City Council, Deputy City Manager Harlan Jefferson detailed the operational and financial outcomes of the program. The initial satellite detection phase identified 178 points of interest across the water distribution system. Subsequent acoustic field assessments confirmed 90 suspected leaks. City staff ultimately confirmed and repaired 33 leaks on the utility side of the meter. The repaired utility infrastructure included seven service pipes, six service connections, five fire hydrants, seven water meters, seven curb stops, and one valve. According to the city's report, these 33 utility-side leaks represented a projected real water loss of 67.6 million gallons per year—approximately 3.5% of Burleson's typical annual consumption of 1.93 billion gallons. The financial value of the recovered water is estimated at $183,994 annually, more than double the cost of the pilot contract. The program also identified 57 suspected customer-side leaks. The city issued 14 notifications to property owners with apparent continuous leaks, two of which have already been repaired, saving an additional 90,000 gallons of water annually. On the wastewater side, the satellite scans identified 100 segments of interest spanning 21 miles of sewer mains. Staff conducted field validations using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and smoke testing. While the report noted that acoustic detection is less effective for gravity-flow wastewater mains compared to pressurized water mains, the initiative still drove tangible infrastructure improvements. Corrective actions included the rehabilitation of five manholes to address structural issues, the installation of 100 manhole rain guards, and the replacement of 35 broken or missing sewer cleanout caps. No sanitary sewer overflows were detected during the investigations. Jefferson highlighted the drastic efficiency gains achieved through the technology, which generally allows field crews to pinpoint leaks more than twice as fast as traditional acoustic surveying alone. "If we had done this field investigation on our own, it would have taken us 7.5 years to complete that," Jefferson told the council. "We were able to do our whole system in less than a year." Given the pilot's success in prioritizing repairs and preventing water loss, city staff indicated they anticipate repeating the satellite scan process every three to four years.