New Mexico partnering with Google to identify underground water leaks

(The Center Square) - The New Mexico Environment Department, Google Public Sector and Woolpert Digital Innovations announced a new initiative called Hydro Delta this week.

The initiative will use satellites and artificial intelligence to identify water leaks, mostly underground.

The technology will let NMED offer reliable and accurate data to community agencies to improve their water management, saving them millions of dollars and gallons of water, according to a press release from NMED.

“Hydro Delta is a game-changer for New Mexico’s drinking water, especially those systems serving rural New Mexicans,” Environment Secretary James Kenney said. “Thanks to the guidance of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 50-Year Water Action Plan, our state is taking the lead in protecting our most precious resource in the face of climate impacts that threaten our water security.”

New Mexico has water systems that lose 40% to 70% of treated water because of leaks, mostly from aging infrastructure.

"These leaks are often extremely difficult to locate and fix, especially in small, rural communities with limited staffing and resources," the release said. "Hydro Delta helps communities with timely and hyperlocal insights derived from millions of satellite images."

Woolpert has used Google's Earth Engine to create a Continuous Change Detection Platform. It monitors various water indicators like soil moisture, vegetation health, and temperature and looks for anomalies that humans cannot easily observe. It then reports those anomalies in an interface for decision-makers to see.

"Ensuring access to clean, reliable drinking water is a priority for every state, and Hydro Delta showcases New Mexico’s innovative leadership in using AI to protect this critical resource,” Brent Mitchell, Vice President of Go-to-Market at Google Public Sector, said. “Together with Woolpert, we are proud to power this initiative with Google Earth Engine and our cloud AI technology to help improve the overall sustainability and quality of the state’s water systems.”

NMED said Hydro Delta plays a role in "informing inspection strategies for leaking systems, minimizing costs and search times," according to the release.

Once someone detects a possible leak, NMED staff notifies one of the state's 1,100 water systems for investigation.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law offers low-interest loans and grants to water systems. These include grants and loans to replace lead pipes, remove PFAS chemicals from water infrastructure, and general system updates. The federal funds create more opportunities for communities to fix local water systems, the release said.

"Woolpert is thrilled to partner with Google Public Sector and the New Mexico Environment Department on this groundbreaking initiative," George Azzari, Director of AI at Woolpert Digital Innovations, said. "By leveraging our advanced geospatial expertise and Google’s cutting-edge technology, Hydro Delta is poised to revolutionize how we identify and address water leaks across the nation. This tool is a testament to our commitment to developing innovative solutions that protect our most precious resource."