Dutch AI-powered monitoring solution strengthens utility performance in São Paulo, Brazil

Brazil’s water sector is facing mounting pressure from climate change, rapid urbanisation and long-standing infrastructure gaps. Despite abundant freshwater resources, prolonged droughts, extreme rainfall and rising demand are placing growing strain on urban water systems. In metropolitan regions such as São Paulo, home to around 40 million people, ageing networks, fragmented governance and high non-revenue water levels complicate effective management. These challenges highlight the need for more precise, data-driven approaches to support resilient and efficient urban water management.

Using AI powered monitoring to address water losses in São Paulo

The Pedro Viviani district in São Paulo is a clear example of how better information can support operational improvements. In this pressure zone, nearly half the supplied drinking water was being lost through leaks that were difficult to locate. Operators were aware of the scale of the problem, but lacked the detailed information needed to identify the most effective interventions.

To address this, the water utility worked with Flowless. This WaterTech company specialises in AI-based leak analysis and operational support. Flowless helped the utility analyse existing pressure and flow data to understand where losses were occurring and how the district responded to operational changes. By using scenario modelling, operators could test adjustments virtually and estimate their impact before applying them in the field.

From data insights to operational action

A small pressure reduction, identified through this analysis, led to a measurable reduction in daily leakage and reduced strain on the network. The adjustment reduced leakage by approximately 33 cubic metres per day, amounting to around 1,000 cubic metres every month. The lower pressure also reduced the workload on pumps, reducing energy use and leading to a smaller operational footprint. In addition, less pressure lowered the likelihood of pipe bursts, helping to limit emergency repairs and improve overall network reliability. 

No new infrastructure was required; the improvement resulted from a clearer understanding of system behaviour and more targeted adjustments. The São Paulo case demonstrates how utilities can strengthen performance by making better use of the data already available in their systems.

A broader shift towards digitalisation

São Paulo is not the only city facing water management challenges. Water utilities across the world are under growing pressure to operate more efficiently within ageing and increasingly complex distribution systems. Fluctuating demand, climate variability and legacy infrastructure make water losses difficult to control, particularly in large urban networks. In many cities, a significant share of treated drinking water fails to reach end users. This leads to financial losses, reduced operational performance and additional strain on existing assets.

For operators, understanding where and how losses occur has become critical. Conventional monitoring often provides fragmented insight, limiting the ability to detect issues early or assess the impact of operational adjustments. As a result, utilities are increasingly turning to digital tools that enable continuous analysis and more targeted decision-making.

The experience in São Paulo reflects this broader shift. Utilities are adopting AI-supported digital monitoring to gain a more complete view of network behaviour and respond earlier to emerging issues. Continuous data collection supports anomaly detection, pressure stabilisation and more effective maintenance planning. These tools also support longer-term decisions by identifying recurring patterns and underlying structural weaknesses.

Dutch digital solutions that shape utility performance

Alongside Flowless, several Dutch solution providers are part of this transition, offering digital tools that help utilities worldwide manage their networks more effectively.

Aquasuite, developed by Royal HaskoningDHV, generates a system-wide overview of drinking water and wastewater operations. The platform draws on data already available in networks and uses predictive models to anticipate changes in demand, adjust pumping and treatment processes automatically, and stabilise system performance. It helps operators maintain consistent service levels, manage energy use more efficiently, and detect deviations at an early stage. 

HULO focuses on identifying localised leaks through high-frequency data analysis and digital twin technology. Its statistical approach helps trace subtle or emerging losses that may not appear in conventional monitoring. This information allows utilities to prioritise repairs, improve asset management, and reduce the time required to respond to issues.

Flowless, Royal HaskoningDHV and HULO demonstrate how Dutch digital solutions use AI to provide utilities with a clearer view of system conditions and emerging issues. Together, they support a shift towards more data-led operations, where decisions are guided by continuous information generation rather than intermittent measurements.

A valuable transformation

The adoption of digital monitoring does not replace the need for infrastructure renewal, but it helps utilities make better use of existing assets. It also helps save energy as pumping and treatment operations can be adjusted more precisely. Moreover, digital tools make it easier for utilities to meet reporting and compliance requirements. By tracking network behaviour over time, operators can demonstrate improvements, identify persistent challenges, and align their investments with areas where the need is greatest.

Looking ahead

As global water challenges intensify, utilities will increasingly rely on tools that help them navigate complexity with greater accuracy. The São Paulo example shows that meaningful gains can be made without large-scale infrastructure investments, simply by using existing data more effectively.

Dutch digital solutions are supporting this shift by offering practical tools that strengthen operations and support more effective network management. As these tools become more widely used, digital monitoring will become an integral element of resilient and efficient water management.