BlueConduit, an Ann Arbor-based water infrastructure and asset modernization industry company, has launched machine-learning software to locate lead service lines (LSLs) in cities in the United States and Canada.
The company’s proprietary software is designed to reduce total time people are exposed to lead, maximizes available funding by helping remove all LSLs efficiently, and analyzes risk so cities know which resident homes need to be serviced first.
“BlueConduit’s AI technology and data-driven approach has helped city officials proactively address lead pipes and help simplify a complex process, making residents safe and happy,” says Eric Schwartz, co-founder of BlueConduit. “It also saves taxpayers and utilities money. BlueConduit was the first to develop this method and we have been inventorying and identifying lead service lines since 2016.”
The company says it has completed the most predictions and analysis, making its software the most accurate. Available to cities, water utilities, and engineering companies, BlueConduit has helped more than 50 U.S. cities, including Flint, Detroit, Trenton, and Toledo, save hundreds of millions of dollars. BlueConduit has inventoried more than 1 million service lines that serve over 2 million people.
Most recently, the city of South Bend, Ind., contracted with Blue Conduit to create an inventory of its lead service lines.
“Since property owners in South Bend own the water lateral from the main to the home or business, the city has few records on service line materials,” says Michelle Smith, director of water quality for South Bend. “We are excited to work with BlueConduit’s service line predictions platform to identify where lead service lines exist so we can proactively educate our customers and develop a plan to replace them.”
BlueConduit’s software takes current data about lead pipes, formulates an inspection plan to verify what is known and unknown, and makes predictions of the presence of the lead service lines. It provides real-time maps on a dashboard to water utility managers and the consumers can see progress on lead pipe replacements in their community.
The BlueConduit platform offers utilities and their residents:
Editor: R.J. King Associate Editor: Jake Bekemeyer