– Achieving 6× More Effective Leak Detection and 79% Cost Reduction –

Tokyo, Japan – June 12, 2025 – Tenchijin Inc., a space-tech innovator, announces the implementation of its “KnoWaterleak” solution in a Japanese local government. This digital transformation (DX) solution for water utilities leverages satellite dataleverages satellite data to support sustainable water infrastructure management and has significantly improved both leak detection efficiency and cost-effectiveness.  In municipalities with populations between 100,000 and 200,000, the solution achieved 6 times higher efficiency in leak detection and a 79% reduction in leakage survey costs.

Addressing Underground Infrastructure Challenges

Water infrastructure faces critical challenges due to aging underground pipelines that are difficult to assess from the surface. In Malaysia, water leakage is expected to cause RM4 billion in losses by 2030, with non-revenue water rates reaching critical levels in many states. The situation is worsening primarily due to aging infrastructure and insufficient maintenance. (Source: Malaysian Water Association) Both in Japan and globally, local governments face a critical challenge. In Japan, over 176,000 kilometers of water pipes installed during the 1960s economic boom are now past their 40-year service life.  Meanwhile, globally, aging infrastructure and constrained budgets are placing immense pressure on municipal resources. With replacement costs averaging 200 million yen per kilometer, this creates an unprecedented financial burden for local governments worldwide.

Breakthrough Results in Leak Detection and Cost Efficiency

1. Six-fold Increase in Leak Detection Efficiency
     Traditional acoustic surveys detected an average of 0.7 leaks per 10 km of pipeline.
     With KnoWaterleak’s technology integration, this increased to 4.2 leaks per 10km
     – a six-fold improvement in detection efficiency.

2. Significant Cost Reduction in Leak Detection and Risk Assessment Surveys
     Traditional survey costs averaged 25,000 MYR (860,000 JPY) per leak detection. The implementation of
     KnoWaterleak reduced this to approximately 5,200 MYR (180,000 JPY) per leak. Including both
     technology costs and acoustic surveys, this represents a 79% reduction in total survey expenses,
     enabling more effective utilization of limited budgets.

3. Precise Risk Assessment and Targeted Detection
     – The system’s risk assessment proved highly accurate, with 40% (50 locations) of all leaks identified in high-risk areas:
          – E-rated areas (highest risk, shown in red) comprise only 3% of total area but contained 10% (12 locations) of discovered leaks
          – D-rated areas (second highest risk, shown in orange) represent 17% of total area and contained 30% (38 locations) of leaks
     – Combined, these high-risk areas (E and D ratings) representing just 20% of the total area yielded 40% (50 locations) of all leak
       detections. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system’s risk assessment and validate the prioritization strategy
       for high-risk zones. 

The implementation of KnoWaterleak represents a significant advancement in water infrastructure management, demonstrating that satellite technology can revolutionize traditional utility operations. The remarkable improvements in leak detection efficiency and cost reduction showcase the potential of space technology in solving earthbound challenges.With aging water infrastructure becoming a global concern, solutions like KnoWaterleak offer a scalable, data-driven approach to infrastructure maintenance. The system’s proven ability to accurately identify high-risk areas while significantly reducing operational costs makes it a valuable tool for municipalities worldwide facing similar challenges.As water infrastructure continues to age globally, the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions becomes increasingly critical. Tenchijin’s success in Japanese municipalities serves as a model for how space technology can be effectively applied to enhance infrastructure management and ensure sustainable water supply systems for future generations.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES