Award

Satellite Leak Detection

UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2025 at 15:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

31 Jul 2025 at 15:17

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process involved United Utilities Water Limited as the buying organisation, seeking to employ advanced satellite technology for leak detection in water supplies. The contract, titled "Satellite Leak Detection," falls under the services category and utilises direct procurement, with SUEZ Advanced Solutions UK Limited appointed as the sole supplier. The industry focus is on water supply operations, with activities taking place throughout the UK. This award was completed on 31 July 2025, highlighting a strategic move to employ innovative and non-invasive technology to monitor and improve water infrastructure. The contract covers a period from 15 August 2025 to 14 February 2026, with an aggregate spend exceeding £1 million.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for technology-driven firms with unique capabilities in satellite-based services, especially those focusing on environmental and infrastructure applications. Companies specializing in high-precision sensor technology and those with a proven track record in large-scale utility projects would find this type of contract advantageous. The procurement of such specialised services indicates a rising trend towards innovative solutions in utility management, opening avenues for further opportunities in public sector contracts for businesses providing similar technological advancements. Businesses capable of aligning their offerings with these strategic needs will be well-placed to compete in future contracts and similar sectors.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Satellite Leak Detection

Notice Description

To procure an ongoing service that has provided benefit during the POC phase, and will continue to provide benefit to support consumption and leakage targets. It is in use now and is helping UU maintain service above official drought levels. This is currently a tactical solution to support current requirements. A long term solution whether make or buy is being looked for 2026. Technology Requirement The requirement is to use SUEZ, in partnership with Asterras, to deliver a satellite-based leak detection service using SAR Band technology. This service is designed to identify underground untreated water leaks across our asset base with high precision and minimal disruption. This advanced technology enables: *Non-invasive, wide area monitoring of potential leak sites *High-frequency scanning to support proactive maintenance *Improved detection accuracy, particularly in hard-to-access or high-risk areas *Operational efficiency gains through early identification and resolution of leaks In addition to the core leak detection service, the solution includes: *Provision of a digital dashboard and mobile application to: *Investigate and visualise Point of Interest of Interest (POINT OF INTERESTs) *Track leak detection progress and outcomes *Monitor performance improvements over time *Support incident response and resource prioritisation *Quantify benefits and efficiency gains from the technology The dashboard and app are integral to the service, enabling real-time collaboration between field teams, analysts, and asset managers, and ensuring that insights from satellite scans are actionable and measurable. The aggregated spend will be over PS1million. This was originally a Pilot Deployment, and the trial was conducted during 2024 - 2025 covering Tameside and the Wirral. The trial demonstrated high success rates in leak detection, prompting an expansion of the engagement. While other suppliers were considered, none were able to demonstrate comparable capabilities or results. The unique nature of the SAR Band technology and the proven success of the trial made SUEZ the only viable supplier. Unique Technical Capability: SUEZ, in partnership with Asterras, offers a proprietary SAR Band satellite leak detection solution that is not currently available through any other supplier. This technology has been proven to detect subsurface treated water leaks with high precision, even in challenging terrains and urban environments. There is no existing framework agreement or contract that covers this specific type of satellite-based leak detection service. Traditional leak detection methods available through existing frameworks do not offer the same level of coverage, accuracy, or technological innovation.

Procurement Information

To procure an ongoing service that has provided benefit during the POC phase, and will continue to provide benefit to support consumption and leakage targets. It is in use now and is helping UU maintain service above official drought levels. This is currently a tactical solution to support current requirements. A long term solution whether make or buy is being looked for 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056a90
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044909-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

65 - Public utilities

CPV Codes

65130000 - Operation of water supplies

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Feb 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED
Contact Name
Phil Cowen
Contact Email
commercialapprovalsboard@uuplc.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
GREAT SANKEY
Postcode
WA5 3LP
Post Town
Warrington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD61 Warrington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall
Westminster Constituency
Warrington South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SUEZ ADVANCED SOLUTIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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