JAXA Venture Tenchijin Introduces "KnoWaterleak" (Space Water Bureau) to France for the First Time, Concludes Sales Agency Agreement with Aqualter
JAXA-certified space venture Tenchijin has partnered with Aqualter in France to introduce "KnoWaterleak," a satellite data and AI-powered leak assessment and management platform. This collaboration aims to optimize water infrastructure management in the Chartres metropolitan area and contribute to water resource conservation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 11:52 (1h 21m after Collected)
JAXA-certified space venture Tenchijin Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhito Sakuraba) is pleased to announce that it has concluded a partnership with Aqualter S.A. (Headquarters: Chartres, France), a French company.
In April 2026, Tenchijin signed a software license agreement with Aqualter, and "KnoWaterleak (Space Water Bureau)," a leak assessment and management platform utilizing satellite data and AI, will be introduced into Aqualter's long-term water operation project in the Chartres metropolitan area. This will promote the detection of leak risks and the optimization of water infrastructure management.
Concurrently, a sales agency agreement was also signed, making Aqualter the first authorized sales agent for "KnoWaterleak" in France.
**Prediction Accuracy Confirmed in Proof of Concept (PoC)**
From January to April 2025, Tenchijin and Aqualter jointly conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) to verify the leak prediction accuracy of "KnoWaterleak" in the Chartres metropolitan area (target population: 141,407 people served by water supply, total length: 1,251.52 km, excluding service pipes, as of 2025 data).
Analysis of historical data from 2017 to 2023 confirmed that 45.5% of leaks that occurred in 2024 were included in the top 12.6% of areas identified as high-risk by "KnoWaterleak." This result met the predefined success criteria, confirming the reliability of the model.
Based on this achievement, Tenchijin concluded a formal license agreement for the Chartres metropolitan area project. Aqualter, as the first official implementer of "KnoWaterleak" in France, will fully commence efforts to advance water infrastructure management in the region.
**Integration with Aqualter's "Walter"**
In the Chartres metropolitan area project, "KnoWaterleak" will be integrated into Aqualter's pipe network monitoring platform "Walter." By adding "KnoWaterleak"'s satellite data and AI-powered prediction function (with a resolution of 100-meter square units) to "Walter," which monitors on-site operational status, it will be possible to operate by complementing on-site and satellite data.
By combining wide-area analysis of satellite data with on-site data, a consistent system will be established to support everything from identifying leak risks to optimizing on-site responses. This will significantly contribute to water resource conservation and the longevity of infrastructure.
**Future Outlook**
Tenchijin also announced its participation in "DISTRICT," an accelerator of "Aerospace Valley," a leading European aerospace cluster based in Toulouse, France, in April 2026. This partnership marks the first step in concrete business development in Europe. Going forward, Tenchijin aims to expand into other projects operated by Aqualter. Concurrently, they will promote joint promotions targeting new customer segments in France, accelerating innovation in water infrastructure management.
**Comments**
**Jean-Patrick LE VAN, CIO & COO, Aqualter Group**
"The integration of 'KnoWaterleak' into our 'Walter' platform is a significant milestone in the digital transformation of water pipe network management. By utilizing AI and satellite data, we can predict leaks and optimize on-site operations with higher accuracy. This innovative initiative not only supports improved network performance but also plays an extremely important role in water resource conservation."
*Comments translated from Japanese
**Keitaro ASABA, Partnership Manager, Tenchijin Inc.**
"We are very pleased that 'KnoWaterleak' is being introduced in France for the first time. Chartres is a historic city with a complex environment where old and new pipelines are mixed, and it is also susceptible to ground movement. We are confident that operating under such conditions will provide insights that will be valuable for future overseas expansion. Furthermore, the conclusion of the first authorized sales agency agreement in the country is a major turning point for Tenchijin. Through Aqualter's deep expertise and strong network, we will pioneer data-driven water infrastructure management throughout France."
**About Aqualter and "Walter"**
Aqualter, headquartered in Chartres, France, has been a strong challenger to major players in the water industry for over 50 years, providing drinking water production, transmission, and distribution, as well as sewage collection.
In April 2026, Tenchijin signed a software license agreement with Aqualter, and "KnoWaterleak (Space Water Bureau)," a leak assessment and management platform utilizing satellite data and AI, will be introduced into Aqualter's long-term water operation project in the Chartres metropolitan area. This will promote the detection of leak risks and the optimization of water infrastructure management.
Concurrently, a sales agency agreement was also signed, making Aqualter the first authorized sales agent for "KnoWaterleak" in France.
**Prediction Accuracy Confirmed in Proof of Concept (PoC)**
From January to April 2025, Tenchijin and Aqualter jointly conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) to verify the leak prediction accuracy of "KnoWaterleak" in the Chartres metropolitan area (target population: 141,407 people served by water supply, total length: 1,251.52 km, excluding service pipes, as of 2025 data).
Analysis of historical data from 2017 to 2023 confirmed that 45.5% of leaks that occurred in 2024 were included in the top 12.6% of areas identified as high-risk by "KnoWaterleak." This result met the predefined success criteria, confirming the reliability of the model.
Based on this achievement, Tenchijin concluded a formal license agreement for the Chartres metropolitan area project. Aqualter, as the first official implementer of "KnoWaterleak" in France, will fully commence efforts to advance water infrastructure management in the region.
**Integration with Aqualter's "Walter"**
In the Chartres metropolitan area project, "KnoWaterleak" will be integrated into Aqualter's pipe network monitoring platform "Walter." By adding "KnoWaterleak"'s satellite data and AI-powered prediction function (with a resolution of 100-meter square units) to "Walter," which monitors on-site operational status, it will be possible to operate by complementing on-site and satellite data.
By combining wide-area analysis of satellite data with on-site data, a consistent system will be established to support everything from identifying leak risks to optimizing on-site responses. This will significantly contribute to water resource conservation and the longevity of infrastructure.
**Future Outlook**
Tenchijin also announced its participation in "DISTRICT," an accelerator of "Aerospace Valley," a leading European aerospace cluster based in Toulouse, France, in April 2026. This partnership marks the first step in concrete business development in Europe. Going forward, Tenchijin aims to expand into other projects operated by Aqualter. Concurrently, they will promote joint promotions targeting new customer segments in France, accelerating innovation in water infrastructure management.
**Comments**
**Jean-Patrick LE VAN, CIO & COO, Aqualter Group**
"The integration of 'KnoWaterleak' into our 'Walter' platform is a significant milestone in the digital transformation of water pipe network management. By utilizing AI and satellite data, we can predict leaks and optimize on-site operations with higher accuracy. This innovative initiative not only supports improved network performance but also plays an extremely important role in water resource conservation."
*Comments translated from Japanese
**Keitaro ASABA, Partnership Manager, Tenchijin Inc.**
"We are very pleased that 'KnoWaterleak' is being introduced in France for the first time. Chartres is a historic city with a complex environment where old and new pipelines are mixed, and it is also susceptible to ground movement. We are confident that operating under such conditions will provide insights that will be valuable for future overseas expansion. Furthermore, the conclusion of the first authorized sales agency agreement in the country is a major turning point for Tenchijin. Through Aqualter's deep expertise and strong network, we will pioneer data-driven water infrastructure management throughout France."
**About Aqualter and "Walter"**
Aqualter, headquartered in Chartres, France, has been a strong challenger to major players in the water industry for over 50 years, providing drinking water production, transmission, and distribution, as well as sewage collection.