France is facing a growing challenge as it loses a significant portion of its drinking water through an aging and underfunded pipeline system. Each year, around 937 million cubic meters of water are wasted, enough to supply seven of the country's largest cities. The national water network stretches over 875,000 kilometers, with an average efficiency of about 80%. This means that for every five liters of water entering the system, one liter is lost before it reaches a household. The rate at which the pipeline network is being replaced is extremely slow, with only 0.67% of the system renewed annually. At this pace, it would take over 150 years to replace the entire network. More than 60% of the pipelines were installed after the 1970s, meaning most are now approaching their 50th year, a time when infrastructure typically begins to show significant wear. Some regions are experiencing particularly high water losses, with nearly 40% of water lost in Velay Rural and up to 61% in the Pyrénées-Orientales. In overseas territories such as Martinique and Guadeloupe, losses reach 48% and 60%, respectively. The financial impact of these losses is considerable, with more than two billion euros spent annually on wasted water, including the cost of the water itself, emergency repairs, and maintenance. Renovating the aging network requires substantial investment from local communities, with costs ranging from 8.5 to 25 million euros depending on the scale of the work. To tackle these issues, local authorities are turning to new technologies such as acoustic sensors, thermal drones, and artificial intelligence to detect leaks before they become visible. These tools can identify unusual vibrations, soil moisture levels, and statistical anomalies in pressure and flow data. However, while these technologies help in monitoring and managing the system more effectively, they do not eliminate the need for physically replacing the oldest and most deteriorated pipes.