Digitalisation is no longer a glimpse of the future; it’s the reality reshaping the present. Across the global water industry, it’s changing how we plan, operate and invest. It’s not just about deploying AI or smart sensors; it’s about making every drop, every decision, and every dollar go further. It’s about foresight, flexibility and impact.
This special edition of Smart Water Magazine - Print Edition offers a panoramic view of how innovation is redefining our sector, from infrastructure to strategy.
In the UK, Richard Warneford (Northumbrian Water) shows how drones, mobile labs and modelling tools are enabling faster, smarter environmental responses. Mark Cooper (Thames Water) shares insights from the rollout of 1.2 million smart meters and their shift to NB-IoT to improve performance and customer experience. In industry, Sergio Arróniz (Grupo Álava) and Xavier Cardeña (HMS Networks) explore the value of real-time data, interoperability and cybersecurity. From the U.S., Melissa Meeker (The Water Tower) reminds us that technology is only as strong as the people trained to use it. In Germany, Klaus Kisters (KISTERS) reflects on the long arc of hydrological digitalisation. And Hidroconta shows how digital solutions are scaling globally, from Saudi Arabia to London, through a modular approach. Siemens demonstrates how digital twins cut costs, optimise operations, and boost sustainability across the full life cycle of desalination plants, while Diehl Metering’s eco-designed ALTAIR V5 helps utilities cut waste, integrate IoT flexibly, and align with decarbonisation goals worldwide.
This special edition of Smart Water Magazine - Print Edition offers a panoramic view of how innovation is redefining our sector, from infrastructure to strategy
In our opinion pages, Amir Cahn maps how to close the digital divide; Steve Salvin focuses on data governance as a pillar of efficiency; and Auroop Ganguly shows how hybrid AI models help forecast extreme weather with greater accuracy.
Examples anchor this issue: Tedagua shows how AI and digital twins optimise desalination; Xylem Vue details its response to Spain’s DANA storm using real-time intelligence; StormHarvester prevents blockages with predictive analytics; and Aganova detects invisible leaks in large-diameter networks across Europe.
And on our cover, a quieter kind of transformation. At Molecor, where digitalisation doesn’t start with software but with engineering, Dolores Herrán plays a key role in how the company brings its industrial technology to new markets. By developing its own manufacturing systems, Molecor has created a model of efficiency, adaptability and sustainability — a company that speaks fluent innovation without needing to raise its voice.
Because real change doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it just works — and keeps working.
