Background
Chile is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, with severe and prolonged drought emerging as one of its most critical challenges. Decreasing rainfall and reduced river flows have led to high levels of water stress, making Chile the most affected country in Latin America in this regard. This situation poses a significant risk to urban water security, particularly in the central regions between Coquimbo and Biobío, where most of the population is concentrated.
In response, Chile has prioritized water for human consumption, with a strong focus on reducing losses in drinking water supply systems. This priority is reflected in national policies, including the National Water Resources Strategy, the National Water Roundtable, the Long-Term Climate Strategy, and the country’s NDCs, which commit to reducing non-revenue water (NRW) by at least 25–30% by 2030 and ensuring service continuity during disruptive events. Despite progress, high NRW levels persist, limiting the efficiency and resilience of water services under increasing climate stress.
The urgency is particularly acute in Tocopilla, a coastal commune historically affected by heavy industrial activity and environmental vulnerability. The city relies heavily on desalinated water, which entails high energy and economic costs. With NRW levels reaching approximately 39%, reducing water losses is essential not only for climate adaptation and mitigation, but also for strengthening local resilience and improving water security in a context of compounded socio-environmental pressures.
CTCN Support
CTCN support will advance the implementation of Chile’s Technology Action Plan for reducing non-revenue water by enabling a pilot application of Artificial Intelligence for leak detection and management in Tocopilla. The assistance will address key technical and institutional barriers, particularly gaps in data availability, calibration, and the effective use of existing network information.
Building on the existing instrumentation and monitoring systems of Aguas Antofagasta, the CTCN will support capacity building, data integration, and evidence generation to demonstrate the effectiveness of AI-based solutions. The pilot will also help identify and strengthen a local champion to showcase and promote the technology for broader replication across Chile.
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of this Technical Assistance is the strengthening of institutional and technical capacities to effectively reduce high levels of non-revenue water in urban drinking water systems in Tocopilla, Chile, through the piloting of an AI-based solution, generating evidence for replication at the national level.
Seeking Experts
The CTCN invites qualified experts and firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in this initiative. For further information on this opportunity, visit the UN Global Market Place (UNGM) or the UN website.
If you are not yet a member of the CTCN Network, you can apply to join here.
