CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
How a Utility in Brazil Cut Daily Leaks by 42,000 Liters/day
How a Utility in Brazil Cut Daily Leaks by 42,000 Liters/day
A clear view of pressure and flow helped the utility waste less and act faster.
A clear view of pressure and flow helped the utility waste less and act faster.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
In this case study, we show how Flowless helped SAAE Volta Redonda use real-time pressure data to reduce daily water losses and improve operational efficiency in one of its most leak-prone zones.
Leak insights led to targeted pressure adjustments.
Real-time pressure data helps detect and prevent invisible water loss.
Results achieved by the utility’s own team, no new hires or replacements.
In this case study, we show how Flowless helped SAAE Volta Redonda use real-time pressure data to reduce daily water losses and improve operational efficiency in one of its most leak-prone zones.
Leak insights led to targeted pressure adjustments.
Real-time pressure data helps detect and prevent invisible water loss.
Results achieved by the utility’s own team, no new hires or replacements.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Concessionária de Fornecimento de Água e Saneamento no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, a municipal utility in Brazil, partnered with Flowless to tackle severe water loss in the pressure zone, where 31% of the supplied water was disappearing daily. Without visibility into pressure changes, the team had been relying on delayed responses and manual checks.
Flowless provided real-time pressure and flow monitoring, along with a digital twin to safely test adjustments. Within weeks, the utility was able to reduce leak volumes by 47%, cutting losses by 1,260 m³/month, all using its existing team and infrastructure.
On-site support was led by Virthuous, Flowless’ local partner in Brazil, who worked closely with the utility team to ensure smooth setup, training, and system integration.
Concessionária de Fornecimento de Água e Saneamento no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, a municipal utility in Brazil, partnered with Flowless to tackle severe water loss in the pressure zone, where 31% of the supplied water was disappearing daily. Without visibility into pressure changes, the team had been relying on delayed responses and manual checks.
Flowless provided real-time pressure and flow monitoring, along with a digital twin to safely test adjustments. Within weeks, the utility was able to reduce leak volumes by 47%, cutting losses by 1,260 m³/month, all using its existing team and infrastructure.
On-site support was led by Virthuous, Flowless’ local partner in Brazil, who worked closely with the utility team to ensure smooth setup, training, and system integration.
THE CHALLENGE
THE CHALLENGE
The utility had long been one of the most difficult zones in the network to manage. Losses were high, and pressure levels were unstable, especially during off-peak hours. The utility team suspected pressure was a major driver, but without data to confirm or track its behavior, most decisions were based on rough estimates and delayed reactions.
There was no clear way to know when leaks were starting, how severe they were, or what actions could reduce them. The result: wasted water, reactive maintenance, and missed opportunities to improve performance.
The utility had long been one of the most difficult zones in the network to manage. Losses were high, and pressure levels were unstable, especially during off-peak hours. The utility team suspected pressure was a major driver, but without data to confirm or track its behavior, most decisions were based on rough estimates and delayed reactions.
There was no clear way to know when leaks were starting, how severe they were, or what actions could reduce them. The result: wasted water, reactive maintenance, and missed opportunities to improve performance.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
Concessionária de Fornecimento de Água e Saneamento no Estado do Rio de Janeiro partnered with Flowless to get a better view of what was happening underground, and a better way to act on it.
Flowless helped the utility:
Install pressure and flow sensors in a specific zone
Connect the data to a user-friendly platform for daily monitoring
Analyze night flow patterns to detect hidden leaks
Run pressure simulations in a digital twin before making changes
Track the impact using automated dashboards and alerts
Flowless provided the tools, training, and platform. The utility team used those tools to make confident decisions and reduce losses, without increasing staff or replacing infrastructure.
Concessionária de Fornecimento de Água e Saneamento no Estado do Rio de Janeiro partnered with Flowless to get a better view of what was happening underground, and a better way to act on it.
Flowless helped the utility:
Install pressure and flow sensors in a specific zone
Connect the data to a user-friendly platform for daily monitoring
Analyze night flow patterns to detect hidden leaks
Run pressure simulations in a digital twin before making changes
Track the impact using automated dashboards and alerts
Flowless provided the tools, training, and platform. The utility team used those tools to make confident decisions and reduce losses, without increasing staff or replacing infrastructure.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Local Implementation Matters
Flowless worked with Virthuous, its local partner in Brazil, to support implementation and coordination with SAAE. That local presence helped ensure smooth setup and daily use.
Better Visibility, Not Bigger Teams
The results were achieved by the utility’s existing staff. The only change was better visibility into leaks and pressure behavior.
Impact That Scales
The utility is now exploring how to extend the same solution to other zones, using the same tools and approach.
