Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is the latest major utility firm to announce the deployment of SmartWater across its network.
The move is in response to rising metal thefts from the company's sites as thieves attempt to capitalise on rising prices for scrap metal around the world.
Now Welsh Water has begun putting SmartWater's forensically-coded security solution to work on its sites, creating a deterrent against the rising tide of theft.
SmartWater is a colourless liquid which contains a unique signature that can only be viewed under ultraviolet light and is virtually impossible to remove.
Welsh Water now also has access to covert SmartWater forensic trap devices which can coat thieves with the fluid if they venture into protected areas, allowing police to track them down and easily place them at the scene of their crime.
SmartWater is widely used across the UK's transport, telecoms and utilities infrastructure.
Academic research has revealed that the criminal fraternity understands that stealing SmartWater-marked items puts them at greater risk of being caught and convicted for theft, as coded items can be easily traced back to their true owner.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water will also benefit from major initiatives being run by police forces across Wales, in partnership with SmartWater investigators and other agencies. Scrapyards are being regularly checked by officers for the presence of SmartWater- marked metals, with their owners being educated by police against the dangers of buying materials which may have been stolen.
SmartWater's clients also benefit from its overall risk-management approach, which includes providing intelligence on ever-shifting theft hotspots, allowing them to take pre-emptive measures.