Manchester City turns to AI and analytics to save millions of litres of water

In a strategic collaboration that reflects the evolving intersection of sports, data, and environmental stewardship, Manchester City Football Club has partnered with global water technology company Xylem to implement an advanced smart water management system at the City Football Academy. The initiative, centred around Xylem Vue, is designed to digitally transform how the Club captures, monitors, and reuses rainwater, effectively closing the loop on irrigation practices and contributing to long-term sustainability goals. The system leverages real-time analytics to optimise water usage across the Club’s state-of-the-art training facility, which spans 16.5 pitches and serves as the operational backbone for Manchester City’s men’s, women’s, and academy teams.

This move highlights how elite football clubs are no longer focusing solely on performance on the pitch. Instead, organisations like Manchester City are increasingly investing in behind-the-scenes innovations that align with broader environmental goals. The smart water platform delivers granular insights using connected sensors and meters, enabling the Club to visualise exactly when, where, and how much water is being used or lost. These insights are pivotal as the Club works towards its goal of reusing 100% of stormwater runoff on-site by mid-2026—a benchmark that sets a high bar for sustainable sports facilities worldwide.

What Role Does Xylem Vue Play in Managing Water at City Football Academy?

Xylem Vue is the digital backbone of Manchester City‘s new water strategy. It incorporates IoT-based infrastructure, smart meters, and cloud analytics to monitor water movement across the entire City Football Academy. As explained by Xylem’s Head of Digital Solutions Jaime Barba, the technology provides real-time data that supports both operational decisions and sustainability metrics. Rather than relying on traditional water sources such as municipal supply or borewells, the Club is now able to optimise usage based on live feedback and predictive modeling.

During peak summer months, a natural grass pitch may require up to 23,000 litres of water daily. Given the sheer scale of City Football Academy, that requirement is exponentially higher. Through the deployment of Xylem’s platform, Manchester City has already succeeded in saving more than 50 million litres of potable water over recent years by recycling harvested rainwater. By actively measuring water flows and pinpointing loss areas, the Club has reduced inefficiencies and set a replicable standard for other sports and entertainment facilities.

Why Is Water Sustainability a Strategic Priority for Manchester City?

Manchester City’s sustainability ethos is not new, but its current water reuse program marks a significant advancement in execution and ambition. The Club has consistently incorporated eco-conscious practices into its operations—from solar power installations to sustainable transportation planning around matchdays. However, water remains one of the most critical yet overlooked resources in stadium and training facility management.

Director of Sustainability Pete Bradshaw indicated that the shift toward intelligent reuse of stormwater aligns with Manchester City’s broader environmental roadmap. He emphasized that this initiative is not merely about compliance or cost savings but about long-term resilience. With the global sports industry increasingly under pressure to reduce its carbon and resource footprint, City’s investment in smart water is both proactive and strategic.

How Does This Initiative Align with the “Play Smart” Campaign?

Launched in 2024, the “Play Smart” campaign represents a collaborative awareness drive by Manchester City and Xylem to educate fans and communities about water sustainability. The campaign builds on shared values between the two organisations, combining the Club’s global reach with Xylem’s water technology leadership. Under the campaign, fans are encouraged to adopt smarter water behaviours at home, from reducing unnecessary water usage to supporting local water-saving projects.

The rollout of Xylem Vue at the City Football Academy acts as both a functional infrastructure upgrade and a real-world case study to inspire broader change. It shows that digital water solutions are not confined to municipalities or utilities—they can be adopted across sectors, including sports, to drive measurable outcomes. The “Play Smart” ethos thus extends beyond awareness into direct action, showcasing how data can be used not just for game statistics, but for environmental impact.

What Is the Broader Significance for Urban and Sports Infrastructure?

The partnership between Manchester City and Xylem offers a template for how large-scale facilities—particularly those that are water-intensive—can reduce their dependency on public water supplies and build resilience against climate volatility. The City Football Academy’s initiative provides an example of urban water reuse in action, offering insights that could benefit city planners, architects, and sustainability consultants.

With water scarcity affecting both developed and developing nations, innovations in rainwater harvesting and real-time monitoring are becoming essential. As extreme weather events become more frequent, sports organisations are increasingly seen as key players in urban resilience efforts. Manchester City’s latest deployment adds to a growing body of evidence that large private-sector institutions can lead by example in addressing environmental challenges.

From a commercial perspective, this innovation also enhances the Club’s brand as a forward-thinking, sustainability-first institution—traits increasingly favoured by sponsors, investors, and global fanbases alike. The alignment with Xylem, a Fortune 500 company with 2024 revenues of $8.6 billion, adds credibility and scale to the project, further reinforcing Manchester City’s leadership in off-pitch innovation.

What Is Next for Manchester City’s Sustainability Roadmap?

The City Football Academy’s water optimisation project is part of a broader, ongoing investment in environmental performance by Manchester City. The Club has also announced a long-term plan to transform the Etihad Campus into a year-round entertainment and leisure destination with sustainability at its core. This includes building energy-efficient infrastructure, enhancing public transportation access, and exploring innovations in materials and waste management.

Looking forward, the lessons learned from Xylem Vue deployment may inform similar water reuse and smart facility management practices at other locations under the City Football Group umbrella. The scalability of this initiative—alongside its real-time decision-making capacity—could accelerate its adoption across global sports venues, not just football clubs.

In the broader sports ecosystem, clubs are under growing scrutiny from fans and regulators alike to reduce their environmental impact. In this context, Manchester City’s stormwater reuse plan, digital water analytics, and community engagement efforts collectively set a benchmark. By making these practices transparent and repeatable, the Club is demonstrating how sporting excellence can—and arguably must—coexist with ecological responsibility.