Aquadrone Marine
Advanced Robotics for Cleaner, Safer Water Systems

Aquadrone Marine is pioneering a smarter way to safeguard communities’ potable water infrastructure.

Founded by experts from construction, coatings and commercial diving, it was built on a bold idea to deploy remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to inspect and clean potable water reservoirs. It works with a diverse range of clients, from utilities and government agencies to homeowners, providing cleaning and maintenance that is completely unobtrusive to operations. Its mission is to keep clean water flowing while eliminating the hazards and inefficiency of traditional underwater maintenance methods.

Across the world, millions of gallons of water are stored in reservoirs susceptible to biofilm, silt accumulation, and coating deterioration that can jeopardize the water purity. Historically, maintenance service involved deploying divers and service interruptions, making it dangerous and time-consuming. Aquadrone Marine provides an intelligent alternative built around robotics and real-world expertise. Its remotely operated vehicles glide through reservoirs, removing sediment and capturing high-definition footage that helps engineers maintain water systems without ever shutting them down.

“Most homeowners or clients don’t even notice we’ve been there,” says Buck Storm, co-owner. “The only difference is cleaner water.”

Aquadrone Marine has two ROV variants built to meet the distinct challenges in reservoir maintenance.

The primary ROV functions as a robotic vacuum, removing sediment from the tank floor with precision. It minimizes turbidity and helps reduce the possibility of water contamination during cleaning. Dual high-definition cameras continuously record footage, providing engineers and operators with a clear view of conditions without entering the water.

For a small community struggling with iron biofilm that discolors water and damages plumbing, Aquadrone Marine performs scheduled maintenance, often twice a year. It offers them an affordable and proactive way to sustain water quality without having to spend millions on a filtering system.

The second ROV is built for inspection and exploration. Compact and highly maneuverable, it operates like a miniature submarine, capable of moving through pipes and accessing confined areas within large tanks. The unit captures 4K video with 330 degree coverage, helping teams see every surface and structure in real-time. Engineers can monitor the inspections remotely, and use the data to plan maintenance, anticipate repairs and make informed decisions.

For larger municipal systems, the inspection ROV reaches the most difficult points, such as 24 inch pipes in six million gallon tanks, and delivers detailed visual data. It can also pinpoint cracks, broken fittings, or other hazards and produce clear documentation that simplifies repair planning.

Drawing on its expertise in construction and coatings, Aquadrone Marine has also developed RESERVOIR-SHIELD, a protective coating system that extends the life of concrete reservoirs. Over time, expansion and contraction of concrete can cause structural stress and cracks. RESERVOIR-SHIELD’s high-pressure injection system repairs leaking sidewalls from the outside, without draining a reservoir. The process involves precise surface preparation, careful material selection and expert application, creating a durable barrier that resists environmental stressors and reduces long-term maintenance.

“It’s about innovation meeting purpose,” says Chris Covey, co-owner. “We’re always looking for smarter ways to protect water systems so they can serve communities for generations to come.”

In recent years, Aquadrone Marine’s team has flown to Brazil to collaborate with the Discovery Channel and Gold Rush Trail, deploying ROVs into Amazon mines and rivers to collect underwater film in harsh conditions. In these studies, ROVs navigated complex underground mines and fast-flowing Amazon rivers, displaying adaptability in adverse environments and providing high-quality visual data in areas where human access was impossible.

With every project, Aquadrone Marine ensures water systems remain clean and efficient, earning its place as the trusted partner communities and utilities turn to for reliable and minimally disruptive potable water solutions.