THAMES Water is installing state-of-the-art tracking systems to its vans in a bid to speed up response times.
The Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system, which uses satellite technology, is capable of pinpointing a van's position to within two metres anywhere in the UK.
Office-based controllers will be able to view the locations on an electronic map, making it easier to deploy crews to leakages.
Leakages are a decreasing, but still significant, problem for the firm, which is in the middle of a programme of pipe replacement.
Bosses of the firm say the new system, which should be installed by the end of August, will also feature a panic button, allowing staff to call for help in an emergency.
Carl Leadbeater, Thames Water's operations manager, said: "Until now, we have only been able to monitor separate teams and not our whole workforce. This technology will be a big step forward."
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