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Wausau approves two‑year sole‑source contract with Astera for satellite leak detection
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a two‑year, approximately $82,000 sole‑source contract with Astera to use satellite imagery and leak‑detection analytics; staff said data can be imported to the utility's GIS and is intended to improve leak targeting.
The Wausau Water Works Commission voted unanimously Jan. 7 to approve a sole‑source contract with Astera for satellite‑based leak detection and imagery.
The contract, described by staff as a two‑year engagement, totals about $82,000 and would be billed roughly half in each year. Scott, a utility staff member, said other Wisconsin municipalities use the service and have reported efficiencies in locating leaks.
"This outfit is, yeah, the only ones that are doing it," Scott said of Astera, adding that satellite imagery would help the utility focus field crews on likely leak locations rather than scanning the entire system.
Commissioners asked about data ownership and handoff. Scott said utility GIS staff can provide line data to Astera with minimal effort and that the utility will retain the collected data in its system after the contract ends.
Mister Evans moved to approve the sole‑source contract; Gene seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Utility staff said Wausau’s traditional hydrant‑listening survey runs every other year at roughly $9,500; the new program would supplement or replace some of that work and help identify non‑surfacing leaks, particularly in low‑pressure zones. Scott said staff were already chasing a leak estimated at about 25–100 gallons per minute at the time of the meeting, underscoring the operational need.
Implementation notes: Staff said providing the utility’s GIS base data to Astera would likely take about an hour of staff time. The contract includes deliverables and analytics that the utility can import into its GIS for ongoing use.
