Reducing Real Water Loss Through Satellite Leak Detection in Duncanville, TX

Serving more than 40,000 residents southwest of Dallas, the City of Duncanville faced growing water loss challenges across its aging water infrastructure. Non-revenue water had risen from 5–8% to as high as 30%, while rocky soil made many leaks difficult to detect because water often traveled through fissures and drained away without surfacing.

By partnering with ASTERRA and deploying satellite-based leak detection using L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Duncanville was able to scan its 240-mile water distribution system and pinpoint underground potable water leaks that traditional methods could miss.

The Impact:

• 80 leaks identified in just 15 days
• 99% of leaks were non-surfacing
• 10 main line leaks found
• More than $350,000 in cost savings
• More than 102 million gallons of potable water saved
• Field crews shifted from reactive repairs to proactive, prioritized leak repair work

Through a proactive, data-driven approach, Duncanville improved its ability to identify hidden real water loss, optimize limited staff resources, reduce operational costs, and protect valuable water supplies.

Download the full case study to see how satellite technology is helping communities like Duncanville transform water loss management.