Smart Water Grows Up in Australia

A WaterGroup integration points to a new phase for smart water in Australia, one focused less on pilots and more on dependable delivery at scale

26 Jan 2026

Australia’s smart water sector is moving from experimentation toward delivery at scale, as providers seek to turn digital tools into reliable outcomes across live networks.

That shift was highlighted this week when WaterGroup said it would integrate with New Plumbing Solutions, known as NPS, from September 1. The group said the move would expand its capability and strengthen the delivery of smart water services nationwide. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The integration comes as utilities and large water users face growing pressure to reduce waste, improve system resilience and meet tighter performance targets. While digital monitoring, analytics and reporting tools are now widely available, many asset owners continue to struggle with long-term execution once technology is installed.

“Implementing technology is achievable,” industry executives often note. “Maintaining performance, accountability and outcomes over time is harder.”

WaterGroup said combining its smart water technology with NPS’s on-the-ground plumbing and operational services would reduce handovers between contractors, shorten deployment times and clarify responsibility once systems are live. In its statement, the company described the integration as a step toward “smarter, stronger and more sustainable” water management.

The timing also reflects structural challenges facing the sector. The International Water Association estimates that non-revenue water, water that is produced but not billed because of leaks, theft or metering errors, averages about 30 per cent in many systems globally. Closing that gap typically requires not only sensors and software, but sustained operational capability.

Consolidation across the smart water market remains uneven. Some customers may welcome fewer, more capable suppliers able to manage projects end to end. Others remain cautious about supplier concentration and reduced flexibility in technology choices. Integrations can also create short-term complexity as teams, systems and processes are aligned.

Even so, the direction of travel is becoming clearer. Australia’s smart water market is moving beyond pilot projects toward solutions that prioritise reliability, service depth and long-term support. For providers, closer partnerships and selective integrations may offer a route to growth. For customers, the promise lies in smoother rollouts and more dependable performance from systems increasingly treated as essential infrastructure.