## 8 Conclusions  
Water loss constitutes a significant challenge for many cities, which requires developing and implementing effective methods for water leak detection. This review offered a comprehensive evaluation of existing water leak detection technologies, presenting several key insights, as follow:  
* The bibliometric analysis conducted over a 23-year period (2000-2023) provided crucial insights into research trends, key contributors, and publication patterns in the field of water leak detection. Analyzing 600 scholarly articles revealed a growing interest in innovative detection methods, particularly in the past decade, corresponding to increased global awareness of water sustainability challenges. The analysis also identified leading institutions and authors, highlighting the collaborative nature of research in this domain. This information serves as a valuable resource for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand the landscape of water leak detection and to identify opportunities for future collaboration. * Traditional methods, including acoustic techniques, tracer gas methods, thermography, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), have demonstrated efficacy in detecting leaks in specific contexts, such as metallic pipelines and underground infrastructures. Acoustic methods are particularly adept at identifying noise or vibrations generated by leaks, but their effectiveness is limited in non-metallic pipes and environments with significant background noise. Tracer gas methods, while reliable, often involve logistical challenges in their application. GPR can reveal underground voids but is influenced by soil conditions and requires careful site selection. Despite their strengths, these methods face limitations, such as high operational costs, dependence on skilled personnel, and the potential for false positives. Future research should focus on enhancing the cost-effectiveness of these traditional methods and minimizing inaccuracies, thereby increasing their applicability across various contexts. * Software-based methods, including flow variation analysis, pressure point monitoring, and water balance techniques, leverage data analytics and computational models to enhance real-time leak detection capabilities. These approaches provide valuable insights into the operational efficiency of water distribution systems. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding calibration accuracy and the reliability of input data. The successful implementation of these methods hinges on developing advanced calibration techniques and robust data collection systems, ensuring that they can effectively pinpoint leaks and facilitate proactive maintenance strategies. * The advent of smart water networks represents a major development in leak detection and management. By integrating hardware and software, these systems enable continuous monitoring, real-time data analysis, and predictive maintenance, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of water utilities. Smart water technologies offer significant benefits, such as early detection of bursts, management of water quality, and optimization of resource allocation. However, the high initial investment costs and the complexity of deploying these systems pose barriers to widespread adoption. Future efforts should prioritize optimizing the cost-effectiveness of smart technologies while simplifying deployment processes to facilitate their integration into existing infrastructures. Effective leak detection is not only critical for operational efficiency but also for minimizing environmental consequences. Water leaks lead to unnecessary water extraction, depleting vital resources, such as rivers and aquifers, which exacerbates water scarcity, especially in vulnerable regions. Additionally, leaks increase energy consumption for water treatment and distribution, raising the carbon footprint of water utilities.