The city of Sant Boi de Llobregat implement smart sensing tech from Fibsen to slash water loss and maintenance costs.

Amid prolonged drought and water restrictions, Sant Boi de Llobregat has launched a high-tech pilot to curb irrigation network leaks using fiber-optic sensing technology developed by Fibsen.

Fiber-optic sensing: a smarter, non-invasive solution

Unlike traditional leak detection methods, this system embeds fiber-optic sensors directly inside pipes, enabling pinpoint leak detection without digging. The technology can detect even micro-leaks with high precision and minimal infrastructure impact.

Fast, accurate, and cost-effective

The real-time nature of the system translates into steep savings. Sant Boi projects annual water savings close to 10,000 m³, which is the equivalent of supplying dozens of households for an entire year. On top of that, the municipality stands to reduce expenses by around €20,000 annually—thanks to avoiding major excavation and drilling costs for repairs.

Bringing Spanish innovation to the field

The proyect is part of the Open Water Innovation Lab, co-led by MWC Capital and Aigües de Barcelona, which fosters forward-thinking water tech. Fibsen emerged as the standout from a competitive, international call for proposals. Their solution now helps combine advanced sensing with municipal operations to swiftly identify pipeline faults—minimizing downtime and resource waste.