The military used the technology to scan for land mines. San Antonio is using it to detect lead pipes.

June 29, 2026 - 18:17

A technology originally developed for the battlefield to detect buried land mines is now being adapted for a very different purpose in San Antonio: finding dangerous lead water pipes. The city will soon test ground-penetrating radar systems that were first used by the military to scan for explosives in conflict zones. Officials hope the same electromagnetic pulses that can locate metal objects underground will help them map out aging lead service lines that still carry drinking water to thousands of homes.

The shift from military to civilian use comes as cities across the country face a federal deadline to replace lead pipes, which can leach toxic metal into tap water. Traditional methods of finding these pipes often require digging or reviewing old paper records, which are frequently incomplete. San Antonio's pilot program will use a modified version of the radar technology, mounted on a small cart, to scan streets and sidewalks without tearing up pavement.

Local water utility managers say the approach could save both time and money. Instead of guessing where the pipes might be, crews can get a precise underground map in minutes. The technology has already proven effective in tests on known lead lines. If the San Antonio trial succeeds, other cities grappling with lead contamination may adopt the same military-grade solution. The project is expected to begin within the next few months, focusing on older neighborhoods built before lead pipes were banned in the 1980s.