Leak-hunting 'pipebots' will help us save water

Scientists have developed miniature robots called ‘Pipebots’ to patrol the water supply network to check for faults and prevent leaks.

About three billion litres of water are lost every day through leaks across hundreds of thousands of kilometres of water pipe in England and Wales, according to the water industry’s regulator, Ofwat.

Researchers say maintaining those underground pipes will be "impossible" without robotics.