Adroit Technologies Breaks Ground with AI-Powered Water Management Platform to Combat South Africa’s Water Losses
Adroit Technologies, a leading provider of industrial automation and digital transformation solutions for over 30 years, is advancing research into an AI-powered Water Management Platform to address South Africa’s critical water infrastructure challenges. The initiative targets non-revenue water losses, which account for nearly 40% of treated water lost to leaks, theft, and aging infrastructure.
The company is developing an AI-driven ‘pseudo-metering’ system capable of estimating consumption and pressure data in areas without physical meters. “We have proven the initial concept and now have the support of the government and industry leaders to develop this AI-driven platform,” said Frits Kok, Co-CEO of Adroit Technologies. The research leverages machine learning and neural network algorithms to analyze telemetry and SCADA data, detect leaks, forecast demand, and infer flow rates in areas lacking sensors, enabling more efficient and transparent water management.
South Africa’s urban growth, vandalism, and limited monitoring capacity have placed tremendous strain on municipal water systems, with leaks and pump failures often only discovered after outages occur. Adroit Technologies aims to integrate new AI capabilities with existing SCADA and telemetry systems to deliver predictive analytics, real-time alerts, and actionable insights, helping engineers identify hidden losses and optimize operations before crises arise.
The AI-powered pseudo-metering innovation has the potential to help under-resourced municipalities monitor network conditions that were previously “data blind.” The ongoing research focuses on developing a scalable, national-level AI framework that uses forecasting, anomaly detection, and digital twin modelling to enhance decision-making and support more efficient water use. A hybrid neural network architecture (CNN-LSTM) and self-healing data middleware are being designed to operate effectively even with incomplete or delayed data, a common challenge across South African municipalities.
“This research is about enabling resilience,” said Hugo Pienaar, Director of Digital Services at Adroit Technologies. “By combining AI with decades of SCADA expertise, we are helping municipalities predict issues before they occur and manage scarce water resources more efficiently.”
While the AI-driven water management platform is still in development, Adroit Technologies already offers a proven suite of SCADA solutions that allow utilities to detect leaks, optimize assets, and improve operational efficiency. The company plans to integrate the new AI capabilities into its product range, providing predictive maintenance, advanced data analytics, and infrastructure optimization designed to strengthen South Africa’s water security and sustainability.
