Q&A: Ed Quilty on Modernizing Water Networks with MOBILTEX-FloPath 

“MOBILTEX’s FloPath technology detects water pressure issues before they become crises, preventing costly breaks, avoiding disruption and complaints, and helping municipalities deliver a higher level of service.” 

In the lead-up to WEFTEC 2025, we spoke with Ed Quilty, CEO of MOBILTEX-FloPath, about how tracking water pressure in underground networks helps utilities improve efficiency, resilience, and customer service. 

Q: What are some of the challenges your utility customers are facing? 

A: While many North American utilities monitor plants, pumping stations, and end-use meters, the thousands of miles of pipe in between are like a black box. Too often, the first sign of trouble is a customer complaint about low pressure, discolored water, or worse — a major break flooding a street. Not only does this disrupt communities, it’s costly. In many cities, 15-30% of treated water is lost in transit – and in some parts of the world, losses top 70%.  

That’s why we developed FloPath. By combining high-frequency monitoring devices with analytics software, we give utilities real-time visibility across their networks. They can detect pressure spikes, drops, leaks, and faulty valves as they happen. The result: fewer complaints, fewer emergency digs, less wasted water, and reduced non-revenue water (NRW). 

Q: How do water pressure spikes actually damage pipes? 

A: Pressure transients — also called water hammer — happen when flow changes suddenly, even for a split second. This can be triggered by city operations, like a pump shutdown, valve closure, hydrant use, or by customer activity, especially large industrial users with high, variable demand. These sudden shifts send shockwaves through the network which isn’t designed to withstand such stress. 

The consequences of pressure transients range from cracks and leaks to catastrophic bursts. They can also stir up sediment and biofilm, degrading water quality, and sometimes create negative pressure that pulls contaminants in. These are hidden but very serious threats to both reliability and public health. 

Q: How has FloPath changed day-to-day operations for customers? 

A: One of our customers in California was dealing with constant leaks and breaks. They suspected pressure issues but couldn’t confirm them. Like most SCADA networks, theirs did not capture high-frequency data across the entire network, especially in areas without power or wired internet. 

They deployed our PFM1-T device (PFM stands for Pressure and Flow Monitoring), and within the first month identified damaging transients. Now, when new events occur, they receive instant alerts and can log into FloPath’s web platform from any device to see exactly where and why the issue is happening, and who is responsible for fixing it. Instead of reacting after failures, they’re proactively protecting assets, cutting NRW, and extending the life of their infrastructure. 

Q: How is FloPath different from other monitoring solutions? 

A: It comes down to three things: resolution, simplicity, and actionable insights. 

• Our IoT devices capture pressure at high frequency which is essential for detecting destructive transients. 

• They are easy to deploy in remote areas or blind spots in networks and have a long battery life with cellular or satellite connectivity requiring no maintenance 

• Data is fed into a secure, cloud-platform which works out of the box on phones, tablets, or desktops — no big IT project required. On top of that, our platform has powerful visualization and analytics to notify staff of unusual events, help pinpoint and trace problems to their source, optimize device placement to the most critical and impactful areas of the network, and even support regulatory reporting. 

Q: How does FloPath support sustainability and resilience? 

A: FloPath offers utilities a cost-effective alternative to traditional SCADA expansion. It improves visibility, reduces unnecessary truck rolls (saving fuel, emissions, and crew time), and gives staff the real-time insights needed to make smarter, faster decisions. The payoff is significant water savings, lower energy use, lower emissions, fewer service disruptions, and more resilient networks. 

At the same time, many utilities are facing tight budgets and a retiring workforce. FloPath helps preserve institutional knowledge by turning raw network behavior into usable insights for the next generation of operators. 

Q: What advice would you give other utilities? 

A: You may be unknowingly damaging your own network. Small changes, such as adjusting how quickly valves are opened or closed, can make a big difference. Having the right monitoring tools in place makes these best practices easier to follow. Getting started is not expensive or complicated. Many of our customers start with a few sensors and quickly start to see how they can make a difference with a small investment generating an immediate ROI. 

Q: What’s next for customers on their modernization journey? 

A: Advanced, and eventually automated, pressure management is the natural next step. With a clear pressure profile of their networks, utilities can optimize settings during low-demand periods, easing stress on pipes, reducing leakage, and preventing main breaks. In short: less waste, fewer breaks, and a smarter path forward for every utility. 

Find Ed and the MOBILTEX-FloPath team at WEFTEC 2025, Booth 4219.