Badger Meter Expands Sewer Monitoring Capabilities with UDlive Acquisition

The $100 million deal will strengthen Badger Meter's BlueEdge suite of water management solutions.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:26am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic studio still life featuring a sleek, modern water flow sensor and accompanying analytics software display, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to conceptually represent Badger Meter's advanced sewer monitoring technology.Badger Meter's acquisition of UDlive expands its industry-leading sewer monitoring capabilities, combining hardware sensors and analytics software to help utilities optimize their wastewater infrastructure.Today in Milwaukee

Badger Meter, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire UDlive Limited, a UK-based provider of hardware-enabled software solutions for sewer line monitoring, for $100 million. The acquisition will expand Badger Meter's presence in the fast-growing sewer line monitoring market and further strengthen the company's BlueEdge suite of water management solutions alongside SmartCover.

Why it matters

The acquisition combines Badger Meter's significant presence in the U.S. sewer monitoring market through SmartCover with UDlive's leadership position in the UK, creating a global leader in sewer line monitoring. This positions Badger Meter to benefit from growing demand for data-driven solutions to manage aging wastewater infrastructure and meet evolving regulatory requirements.

The details

UDlive delivers low-power, easy-to-install water level sensors at manholes and pairs them with proprietary visualization and analytics software that provide utilities with continuous, real-time insight into sewer network conditions. Since launching in 2017, UDlive has established a leading position in sewer line monitoring in the UK, with a 90% tender success rate and high technology assessment scores from utilities and consultants. In fiscal 2026, UDlive reported $22 million in revenue and positive operating profit.

  • Badger Meter signed a definitive agreement to acquire UDlive on April 17, 2026.
  • The transaction is expected to close at the end of April 2026.

The players

Badger Meter, Inc.

A provider of comprehensive water management solutions through its BlueEdge suite of smart measurement hardware, communications, data visualization and analytics software.

UDlive Limited

A UK-based provider of hardware-enabled software solutions for sewer line monitoring, delivering real-time insight into wastewater networks through low-power sensors and proprietary analytics.

Kenneth C. Bockhorst

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Badger Meter.

Philip Bennett

CEO and co-founder of UDlive.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Together, SmartCover and UDlive will create an industry-leading global portfolio of sewer line monitoring capabilities, offering a range of solutions across a broader set of use cases and geographies, while leveraging the same underlying secular drivers that continue to support long-term adoption. This acquisition further advances our strategy of providing utilities with hardware-enabled software solutions that deliver actionable intelligence across the water cycle.”

— Kenneth C. Bockhorst, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Badger Meter

“We are excited to join Badger Meter and become part of a broader platform focused on intelligent water infrastructure. SmartCover and UDlive address complementary aspects of sewer line monitoring, and together we can deliver greater value to utilities seeking remote, reliable and relevant solutions to manage increasingly complex wastewater networks.”

— Philip Bennett, CEO and co-founder of UDlive

What’s next

Badger Meter expects to leverage its global commercial footprint to accelerate UDlive's adoption beyond the UK in targeted international markets.

The takeaway

The acquisition of UDlive strengthens Badger Meter's position as a leading provider of comprehensive water management solutions, combining its U.S. presence with UDlive's UK leadership to create a global leader in sewer line monitoring. This positions the company to capitalize on growing demand for data-driven approaches to wastewater system management.