What Les Gars des Eaux does

Les Gars des Eaux (legal entity AFD Groupe – Atlantic Fuite et Détection) is a French private company founded in 1993 in Nivillac, Morbihan, specializing in non-destructive water leak detection. Operating through 70 local agencies across France with approximately 250 employees including 100 field technicians, the company serves three primary customer groups: individual homeowners and tenants experiencing water damage or abnormal consumption, enterprise clients (insurance companies, property managers, expertise firms, construction companies), and public water utilities. The core offering is built around acoustic detection methods combined with thermal imaging, video inspection, and smoke/gas tracing equipment, enabling precise localization of leaks in interior, exterior, buried, and hard-to-access pipe networks without property damage.

The business model is predominantly project-based professional services: each intervention is quote-priced, with a 24-hour contact response and on-site delivery typically within one week, followed by a detailed report the next day. Revenue is generated through a hybrid B2B/B2C go-to-market in which direct consumer acquisition (phone, online quote, television advertising) is supplemented by long-term referral partnerships with major French insurers (Allianz, AXA, Maif, Groupama, MACSF, GAN, Pacifica), property managers (Citya, Foncia, Nexity, CDC Habitat), and an artisan network of approximately 3,000 building professionals. Disclosed revenue is €32 million, up from €700K a decade earlier, with a stated €100 million target by 2030.

In 2024–2025 the company executed a brand relaunch (from AFD Groupe to Les Gars des Eaux), launched its first national TV campaign, opened an international subsidiary in La Réunion (Les Gars des Eaux – Océan Indien), introduced a remote-detection digital service (TéléRF), and secured an EcoVadis Gold Medal for ESG.

Name

Les Gars des Eaux

Legal name

AFD GROUPE – ATLANTIC FUITE ET DETECTION

Website

https://lesgarsdeseaux.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Les Gars des Eaux is a French non-destructive water leak detection specialist serving homeowners, insurers, property managers, and public water utilities through 70 agencies nationwide, using acoustic, thermal, and video inspection methods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Leak Detection Services

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (541350)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Active Leak Detection & Acoustic Surveying (Ground Mics, Correlators, Hydrophones) (EUANAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leak Localization & Condition Assessment (Inline Inspection, GPR, CCTV for Water Mains) (EUANAKAF), Field Operations & Repair Services (Emergency Response, Leak Repair, Crew Dispatch) (EUANAKAL)

Keywords

• Water leak detection
• Non-destructive inspection
• Pipe network mapping
• Insurance claim assessment
• Building diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Nivillac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Leak detection services: On-site leak detection services for residential, commercial, and public water networks. Billed per intervention, with pricing determined by quote based on scope and complexity.
2. Network inspection and mapping: Detection réseaux & inspection vidéo services including pipe tracing, flow analysis, and network mapping for construction and renovation projects
3. Insurance-mandated inspections: Services commissioned by insurance companies to assess water damage claims and determine leak sources for indemnification purposes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Les Gars des Eaux is a French national leader in non-destructive water leak detection and pipe network inspection. The company dispatches trained technicians across 70 local agencies to locate leaks in residential, commercial, and public water systems using acoustic detection, thermal imaging, video inspection, and gas/smoke tracing methods without damaging property. It also provides insurance-mandated damage assessments, network mapping, and a remote leak detection digital service (TéléRF).

Product overview

Les Gars des Eaux is a non-destructive leak detection service company operating as a unified service offering rather than a software platform. The core offering consists of two main service categories: (1) Recherche de fuites - interior and exterior leak detection using acoustic and non-invasive methods, covering residential, commercial, and municipal water systems including swimming pools and heating systems; and (2) Détection réseaux & Inspection vidéo - network detection and video inspection for mapping pipe networks, identifying drainage issues, odors, and providing network retracing. Additional specialized services include natural disaster diagnostics for drought-related damage claims. In 2025, the company launched TéléRF, a remote leak detection service combining digital application technology with on-site intervention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TéléRF: Remote leak detection service launched in 2025, combining digital expertise via an application with on-ground technician presence.

Products and services

• Recherche de fuites (Interior Leak Detection) Non-destructive acoustic leak detection service for interior pipe networks in residential, commercial, and public premises. Uses listening methods and specialized equipment to locate leaks without damaging walls, floors, or ceilings.
• Détection réseaux & Inspection vidéo Network detection and video inspection service for mapping and locating issues in buried or embedded pipe networks, including bad drainage, odors, and network retracing for construction and renovation projects.
• Dégât des eaux (Water Damage Detection) Water damage assessment and leak source identification service for apartments, houses, and business premises experiencing unexplained water damage.
• Moisissures / Humidité (Moisture & Mold Investigation) Detection service for moisture and mold issues caused by hidden water leaks, addressing visible signs such as peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint, warping floors, and mold growth on walls, floors, or ceilings.
• Fuite chauffage (Heating System Leak Detection) Leak detection service for heating systems including electric, wood, gas, and fuel boilers, monitoring pressure indicators and identifying leaks anywhere on the heating network.
• Surconsommation d'eau (Abnormal Water Consumption)

Quantifiable outcome

• Interventions delivered within 1 week of contact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Insurance companies (Allianz, Maif, MACSF, GAN, AXA, Groupama, Pacifica)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1993Since 1993, Les Gars des Eaux has partnered with major French insurance companies who mandate their leak detection services for water damage claims. This partnership model is the core of their B2B revenue, with insurance assessors referring customers or commissioning investigations directly.
• Property management companies (Citya Immobilier, Foncia, Nexity, AJP Immobilier)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with real estate agencies, property managers, and social housing operators for leak detection services in managed properties. These partners refer customers experiencing water damage or commission investigations for their property portfolios.
• Artisan and building professionals networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of approximately 3,000 plumbers, pool specialists, roofers, and other building professionals. These artisans collaborate with Les Gars des Eaux for leak investigation before performing repair work, providing a complementary service relationship.
• FC NantesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional football club sponsorship since 2021, providing brand visibility and community engagement through sports marketing.
• Expertise firms (Polyexpert, Saretec, Sedgwick)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with insurance expertise firms that mandate Les Gars des Eaux for technical assessment of water damage cases on behalf of insurance companies.
• Construction companies (VINCI Construction, SOGEA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company partners for leak investigation services, typically commissioned before or during construction projects to map existing networks or locate leaks affecting works.
• Water utilities and public authoritiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with public water utilities, drinking water authorities, and municipal services for leak detection on public water networks, helping reduce water loss and infrastructure degradation.
• Team for the PlanetminorOthersLes Gars des Eaux joined Team for the Planet in October 2024 as part of their environmental commitment, aligning with their mission to preserve water resources.
• CarbominorOthersPartnership with Carbo for conducting comprehensive carbon footprint assessment (bilan carbone) of the company's operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Sedgwick France: Global insurance loss-adjusting and expertise firm, listed as a Les Gars des Eaux partner for technical water damage assessment. Adjacent ecosystem participant that channels insurance demand to leak detection specialists rather than competing in the detection service itself.
• Polyexpert: French insurance expertise and loss-adjusting firm partnered with Les Gars des Eaux for water damage claims. Functions as a customer and referrer in the insurance value chain, not a competing leak detection provider, but materially shapes demand for non-destructive detection services.
• Saretec: French construction and insurance expertise firm partnered with Les Gars des Eaux for water damage diagnostics. Sits in the same insurance/construction referral ecosystem; comparable as a channel partner influencing demand for non-destructive leak detection.

Broad incumbents

• Suez: Global water utility and environmental services operator with deep French municipal water presence. Competes indirectly via leak detection and network diagnostics capabilities embedded in broader water-service contracts, but does not focus on consumer/B2B non-destructive detection.
• Veolia Eau: One of the world's largest water and environmental services groups, serving municipalities and industrial clients across France. Overlaps with Les Gars des Eaux on public water network leak detection and NRW reduction, but operates a much broader water/wastewater portfolio rather than specializing in non-destructive detection.
• Xylem (Sensus): Global water technology group offering smart metering, network monitoring and leak management solutions for utilities. Overlaps with Les Gars des Eaux' AEP/public-network offering through technology-driven NRW reduction but competes at a different scale and via utility-grade software/hardware rather than field service.
• Saur: Major French water and wastewater services provider operating municipal concessions. Provides leak detection and network integrity services as part of utility contracts, comparable to Les Gars des Eaux' public-network offering but bundled with broader water operations.

Regional players

• Hydro-Assistance: Belgian leak detection and network inspection specialist serving residential, industrial and municipal clients with non-destructive methods. Closely comparable service offering to Les Gars des Eaux but operates primarily in Belgium rather than France.

Direct peers

• Aquadetect: French specialist in non-destructive water leak detection for residential, commercial and public clients. Directly comparable business model, service menu (acoustic detection, video inspection, gas tracing) and customer segments (insurers, property managers, homeowners) to Les Gars des Eaux, but smaller national footprint.

Emerging players

• Gutermann: Switzerland-based manufacturer of acoustic leak detection equipment (ground microphones, correlators, loggers) widely used by leak detection service providers. Comparable in category leadership for acoustic detection technology that Les Gars des Eaux uses, but sits upstream as an equipment supplier rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lesgarsdeseaux

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Les Gars des Eaux