New technology for earlier detection of bursts in rising water mains27 Jul, 2026 By Thomas JohnsonCondition-monitoring specialist Samotics has d...
Published by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
New technology for earlier detection of bursts in rising water mains
27 Jul, 2026 By Thomas Johnson
Condition-monitoring specialist Samotics has developed a new platform to give water companies earlier warnings to detect burst rising mains, assets that are well known to be difficult to monitor.
Designed in collaboration with Yorkshire Water and Southern Water, using verified data from real bursts across both networks, Samotics’ monitoring technology uses electrical signatures of the pump itself to detect bursts.
Rising mains and pressurised pipes that carry water uphill are among the hardest assets in the network to oversee, according to the firm.
As a result, a burst is often only confirmed once wastewater reaches the surface and is then reported to the water company. The Environment Agency attributed around 20& of England’s serious pollution incidents in 2024 to spills from rising mains.
The time taken to detect a burst is the biggest single factor in determining how damaging the incident becomes.
Samotics said its new platform, SAM4, uses electrical signature analysis (ESA) to monitor pumps and motors remotely from the motor control centre utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the current and voltage the pumps draw.
Reading the electrical signal means SAM4 can monitor pump systems continuously, which often operate in times of high demand, picking up the early signs of a developing burst that would otherwise stay hidden until sewage surfaces.
27 Jul, 2026 By Thomas Johnson
Condition-monitoring specialist Samotics has developed a new platform to give water companies earlier warnings to detect burst rising mains, assets that are well known to be difficult to monitor.
Designed in collaboration with Yorkshire Water and Southern Water, using verified data from real bursts across both networks, Samotics’ monitoring technology uses electrical signatures of the pump itself to detect bursts.
Rising mains and pressurised pipes that carry water uphill are among the hardest assets in the network to oversee, according to the firm.
As a result, a burst is often only confirmed once wastewater reaches the surface and is then reported to the water company. The Environment Agency attributed around 20& of England’s serious pollution incidents in 2024 to spills from rising mains.
The time taken to detect a burst is the biggest single factor in determining how damaging the incident becomes.
Samotics said its new platform, SAM4, uses electrical signature analysis (ESA) to monitor pumps and motors remotely from the motor control centre utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the current and voltage the pumps draw.
Reading the electrical signal means SAM4 can monitor pump systems continuously, which often operate in times of high demand, picking up the early signs of a developing burst that would otherwise stay hidden until sewage surfaces.
Tags
- Water Monitoring
- Environment
- Water Monitoring
- Water Systems Monitoring
- artificial intelligence
- Condition Monitoring