Fibre network enlisted for water leak detection
Portsmouth Water is preparing to deploy leak-detection technology with Lightsonic. The system will use Openreach's full-fibre infrastructure.
Portsmouth Water is preparing to introduce leak-detection technology while working with Lightsonic. The arrangement would use Openreach’s fibre network, connecting a water utility’s monitoring effort with telecoms infrastructure. The available material does not give the scale, timing, or technical workings of the deployment. More broadly, the story sits where water utilities and communications networks meet, raising the question of whether fibre infrastructure can support utility monitoring as well as connectivity.
If the deployment works as intended, Portsmouth Water’s customers and local businesses could benefit from faster identification of leaks, potentially reducing disruption and water loss. Telecoms infrastructure owners and utility regulators may also watch whether fibre networks can support environmental monitoring alongside connectivity. The impact would depend on operational performance, costs, and privacy safeguards, which are not detailed in the available material.