Satellite technology is being put to the test in a new £1.15 million project exploring how water companies could spot potential risks to drinking water sources earlier and better protect water quality.

Image: Examples of Smart Watch satellite mapping layers, including land-use

classification, catchment boundaries, and environmental data analysis.

Smart Watch brings together Affinity Water, JBA Consulting, eight other water companies, technology specialists and researchers to explore how satellite imagery and automated technology can monitor large areas of land surrounding water sources and identify potential risks – from changing land use and new developments to riverbank erosion and agricultural activity.

Water companies already use satellite imagery in different ways alongside site checks and other monitoring to identify changes across catchments. Smart Watch will test whether artificial intelligence and automated technology can help identify those changes more accurately and efficiently across larger areas, allowing teams to assess potential risks sooner and target site visits where they are most needed, saving time and resources.

At Affinity Water, the technology is predicted to reduce the time spent on monthly desktop surveys and investigations by around 50%, helping teams work more efficiently and focus their expertise where it is needed most.

Steve Plumb, Director of Asset Management & Capital Delivery at Affinity Water, said:

“Our catchments cover huge areas, and what happens on the land can ultimately affect the water sources and environment we rely on. Smart Watch is an exciting opportunity to explore whether satellite technology can give our teams a clearer picture of how those areas are changing.

“Investing in new technology like this is about finding smarter and more efficient ways to protect our water sources. If we can identify potential risks earlier, our teams can focus their time and expertise where it is needed most, helping us get more from our resources while taking an even more proactive approach to protecting water quality.”

Work is now underway on the two-year project, with participating water companies using real examples from their catchments to help develop and test the technology across different landscapes and environmental challenges.

Andrew Gubbin, Director at JBA Consulting, said:

“Two years in the making, the Smart Watch project shows what is possible when different expertise comes together. By combining our innovative approaches to satellite technology and environmental modelling with water industry knowledge, we are developing new ways to better understand, monitor and manage catchments.

“Working closely with Affinity Water, our team is leading the technology development for Smart Watch - combining our expertise in Earth Observation, machine learning and technical delivery with the specialist knowledge of our project partners including eight water companies. Together, we're creating a clearer picture of changes happening on the ground and exploring how this approach can support water companies in monitoring catchments more efficiently and target interventions where they can have the greatest impact.”

At Affinity Water, the technology will initially be tested across 10,000 hectares (100km²) of catchment land, using a mix of rural, agricultural and urban environments to understand how the approach performs across different landscapes.

The project will also explore how the technology could be used to monitor larger catchment areas more effectively, helping water companies identify changes across areas that can be difficult and resource-intensive to survey regularly.

The Ofwat-funded project involves nine other water companies, alongside JBA Consulting, SatSense, the University of Aberystwyth and Spring, the centre of excellence for innovation in the water sector.