W
ater loss is a global problem, with 3 billion litres wasted daily in the U.K. and roughly 90 billion litres in the U.S. While fixing underground pipes is essential, many leaks happen inside buildings, especially schools and public facilities. To address this, Belgian company Shayp has signed a decade‑long collaboration with Microsoft to cut water waste in educational and civic structures across Brussels and Paris. The initiative will cover 125 schools in Brussels and 500 schools and public buildings in Paris.
Shayp’s solution builds a digital twin of a building’s water system, sampling meter data every 30 seconds and detecting even trickle‑level leaks. Once linked to the main water meter, its AI learns normal consumption patterns and flags anomalies in real time. “To become water positive by 2030, we must also replenish the watersheds we serve,” Microsoft’s water lead Eliza Roberts said.
Gregoire de Hemptinne, Shayp’s co‑founder, explained that while many focus on utility networks, up to 30 % of leaks occur on large campuses. “Our platform adapts to each building’s daily habits, distinguishing normal usage from genuine problems,” he noted. “Sustainable infrastructure investments today benefit communities for decades.”
Ecolab’s senior VP of sustainability, Emilio Tenuta, highlighted that globally 30 % of municipal water is lost before reaching consumers. He stressed that reducing losses is a strategic priority, especially with a projected 56 % freshwater shortfall by 2030. “Every innovation that protects water brings us closer to closing the gap,” Tenuta said.
CBRE, managing properties that consume over 100 billion gallons annually, is partnering with Ecolab to enhance water efficiency and quality in commercial real estate. “Water is a critical sustainability challenge for sectors such as data centers, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing,” CBRE’s chief sustainability officer Rob Bernard remarked.
Google, together with Agua Segura, has launched a project in Belgium to detect and prevent water losses in community buildings near its data center, further underscoring the growing focus on building‑level water conservation.
