SkyTL, A Tampa-based technology company, has launched a joint pilot program with global infrastructure leader ACCIONA to predict water quality changes before they reach utility intake points.
The project, developed with the support of Tampa Bay Water, combines satellite imagery, fixed cameras, drones and machine learning to alert operators to salinity, turbidity and red tide events up to two hours in advance.
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The pilot recently earned first place at the ACCIONA North America Innovation Awards.
The program highlights how predictive infrastructure can help utilities safeguard operations and improve water reliability across Florida.
What happened
SkyTL and ACCIONA have developed a real-time detection platform that enables utilities to transition from reactive to predictive operations.
Traditional systems identify changes only once they hit intake locations. This pilot takes a broader view, analyzing bay and open-water data to recognize patterns early.
The system uses multiple data layers, including:
- Satellites for regional surveillance
- Fixed cameras for visual confirmation
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for targeted sampling
All data feeds into SkyTL’s AI platform, which processes and classifies events such as turbidity and salinity spikes. The goal is to provide accurate alerts with at least 2 hours of lead time and a classification accuracy of 80% or higher.
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“Water utilities are under growing pressure to maintain continuous operations in the face of rising weather complexity,” said Rocio Frej Vitalle, founder and CEO of SkyTL. “With ACCIONA we’re developing a system that lets operators act before an event reaches the utility, reducing chemical use, preventing equipment damage and avoiding unnecessary shutoffs.”
What’s happening now
The pilot is being tested at the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant, one of the region’s key sources of drinking water. Operators will use SkyTL’s secure web-based tools to visualize live heatmaps, trend lines and satellite bands that track multiple parameters.
Beyond turbidity and salinity, SkyTL is testing other indicators such as chlorophyll-a, CDOM, SPM, phycocyanin, total alkalinity (TA) and pCO₂. The long-term goal is to provide utilities with a full environmental early warning system that protects operations and public health.
What this means for Florida
This pilot could change how cities across Florida and the Gulf Coast manage water risk. Predictive analytics give utilities time to prepare, not just respond. That means fewer disruptions, more consistent service and lower operating costs.
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For investors and policymakers, it also demonstrates how AI and environmental data can enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure.
For SkyTL, the project demonstrates Tampa’s growing role in climate innovation. The company has already been backed by NASA, NOAA, Google and the U.S. Air Force for its AI and data systems designed to support disaster response and infrastructure protection.
Takeaway
The SkyTL–ACCIONA pilot is more than an experiment. It is proof that predictive technology can make water safer and utilities stronger.
As Florida faces rising climate risks, Tampa is helping pioneer the tools that will define the future of resilience.
Learn more at www.skytl.com.