Ripple Effect: Inside Aurora Water’s digital shift to build a more resilient city

Aurora, Colorado, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the western U.S. As new neighborhoods rise at the city’s expanding edge, its water systems – some more than 70 years old – face growing pressure.

To meet the challenge of aging infrastructure and rapid growth, Aurora Water is leading a digital transformation. Using innovative condition assessment technologies, smart meters, data analytics, and predictive tools, the utility is planning ahead, improving performance, and better serving its community.

To explore this transformation, Logan Fesenmair-Black of Xylem spoke with Aurora Water’s Melissa Grove and Shiva Sapkota about how the utility is putting data and digital tools at the center of its operations.

Drought is common in the West, but the early 2000s hit especially hard. How did that experience shape Aurora’s approach to water use?

Melissa: That drought was a wake-up call. We had to dip into our emergency reserves, and it showed how vulnerable we were. In response to the drought, Aurora Water designed and built the Prairie Waters System, an innovative potable reuse system that uses a sustainable water source by recapturing river water Aurora already owns. Prairie Waters uses both natural cleansing processes and state-of-the-art purification technology to deliver up to an additional 10 million gallons of water per day.  

Water conservation also helped to pull Aurora out of the drought. Since then, we’ve taken a proactive approach – investing in conservation, offering rebates for low-water landscaping, and partnering with customers to rethink outdoor water use. It’s paid off: per capita water use is down more than 30%. Those early efforts laid the groundwork for the digital tools we use today to monitor demand and drive even greater efficiency.

What role has population growth played in shaping Aurora’s water management strategy?

Melissa: Growth is a major factor. When I joined the utility in 2013, we had 340,000 residents – now we’re over 400,000. That increase stretches infrastructure and exposes weak points, so we had to change our strategy. Instead of reacting to growth, we plan for it from the start – designing infrastructure with 2075 in mind, not just today, and making data a core part of how we invest. One of the biggest steps we’ve taken is our 3D digital twin. It’s a platform that integrates GIS, asset data, and maintenance systems, so our teams have real-time access to insights that support smarter decisions.

How do long-term projections influence the way Aurora Water designs systems today?

Shiva: We’re actively preparing for more people, more demand, and a hotter, drier climate. That influences everything from pipe sizing, site selection, and land acquisitions planned for decades ahead. We’ve rerouted assets and upsized lines based on projected growth, helping us stay ahead, instead of playing catch-up. And with each new build, we’re planning from the outset to integrate advanced, data-driven technologies that protect and optimize resources over the long term.

What role does data play in helping Aurora Water make long-term decisions?

Shiva: Data is foundational. We’ve rolled out close to 94,000 smart meters across the city, giving us real-time visibility into how water is being used. That helps us catch leaks, reduce service calls, and understand usage trends.

We’re also building out our asset management system. Instead of just cataloging equipment, we’re integrating condition data, inspection reports, and failure history – not only for vertical assets, but also across our underground pipeline network. That helps us prioritize repairs based on actual risk and not assumptions.

How has predictive analytics helped Aurora Water stay ahead of system risks?

Shiva: We’re no longer waiting for things to break. Now, we spot early warning signs and act before there’s a problem. We’ve launched projects based entirely on predictive analysis – work that likely prevented major service disruptions. In 2022, we partnered with Xylem on a comprehensive risk assessment of our citywide pipeline network.

Using machine learning across historical, environmental, and hydraulic data, we identified our highest-risk assets. The assessment combined probability and consequence of failure modeling, giving us data-driven recommendations we could take to the City Council.

The recommendations supported an increase in our capital improvement budget from $5 million to $28 million, and we can now direct resources to where the impact is greatest.

It has also improved communication. When neighborhoods ask why their street is under construction, we can show them the data behind the decision. That transparency builds trust.

Beyond the city network, Aurora also manages critical transmission assets like the Homestake Project. How do you ensure those older systems remain reliable?

Shiva: Homestake is one of our oldest and most important transmission systems, built more than 50 years ago. For over two decades, we’ve partnered with Xylem to carry out regular in-line inspections that keep us ahead of potential risks. In our most recent assessment in July 2024, we used the PipeDiver platform to evaluate nearly 44 miles of pipeline in under a day – analyzing more than 10,700 individual pipe sticks. 

While most of the system is in good condition, we were able to pinpoint 274 pipes with broken wire wraps, with a small number (five) showing signs of higher levels of distress. These insights are shaping how we plan upgrades and investments, so we can extend the life of the system and keep delivering reliable water to our community.

What drives Aurora Water’s decisions on which technologies to invest in?

Melissa: We start with the problem. What’s not working? What’s taking too long? What creates risk? Then we bring the right people together – teams from operations, IT, and engineering – to explore options.

That’s how our digital twin came about. Our operators didn’t have reliable drawings. Updating them would have cost as much as building a 3D model, so we chose the digital twin, which now supports smarter operations across the board.

What impact has the digital twin had across teams?

Melissa: It gives us a shared visual platform that everyone can use, and our operational processes are more collaborative. Today, operators are no longer end users of new technology. They’re part of the design process. They tell us what they need, what works, what doesn’t. That feedback loop has made adoption easier. We’re also seeing more ownership. Field crews suggest improvements. Maintenance staff identify better equipment. People feel empowered, and that’s where a lot of our progress has come from.

What would you say to a utility just starting down this path?

Shiva: Start with the data you already have. Run a pilot, learn from it, and improve. Focus on a real problem and involve your people first – the right technology will follow.

Most of our big initiatives started as small pilots that proved value early, with the best solutions coming from staff who understand the work firsthand.

A more resilient water system in Aurora

By leveraging data, predictive analytics, and digital tools, Aurora Water is creating an adaptable network to meet the needs of its growing population. These investments ensure reliable, high-quality water service even under pressure. Xylem supports utilities like Aurora in creating smarter, more resilient systems that empower communities to thrive.