A coalition of thirteen water companies from has issued a call to action, urging the European Union (EU) to prioritize digitalisation in its efforts to create a water-resilient Europe. This appeal comes in response to President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of a forthcoming European Water Resilience Strategy during the 2024-2029 EU political cycle.
The joint statement highlights the critical importance of water as a resource under increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, and aging infrastructure. Despite the pivotal role water plays, the EU's water management system is plagued by fragmentation, with responsibilities dispersed across various public and private actors, making policy implementation challenging.
A digital future for water management
To address these challenges, the statement emphasizes the need for trustworthy data and advanced digital technologies. Improved data collection and analysis are essential to inform decisions across the water cycle, including drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater management. However, the sector faces significant hurdles, such as a lack of reliable data on water leakage and insufficient adoption of digital tools like digital twins.
The coalition urges EU policymakers to take the following actions:
- Develop a comprehensive EU-wide digitalisation action plan: This plan should include best practices, recommendations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to accelerate innovation throughout the water value chain.
- Establish targeted EU funding and incentives: Investments in digitalisation should be prioritized in upcoming financial frameworks, with a focus on data-centric projects addressing water leakage, groundwater monitoring, and energy efficiency.
- Promote implementation of existing legislation: Digital technologies can enhance compliance with EU water directives, and Member States should share knowledge and build capacity for effective technology adoption.
- Expand digital skills and research programs: The sector must attract tech-savvy talent and invest in research partnerships to tackle the growing cyber security risks to water systems.
- Enhance public awareness campaigns: Using digital tools and social media, the value of water should be communicated effectively, particularly to younger generations.
Bridging green and digital transitions
The statement underscores that embracing digital solutions is not only key to achieving water resilience but also to advancing the EU's broader goals of energy security, biodiversity restoration, and industrial competitiveness. Integrating digitalisation into water management is positioned as a pivotal step in aligning green and digital transitions.
The undersigned organisations reaffirm their commitment to supporting the European Commission’s efforts to facilitate public and private investment in digital technologies and cross-border water infrastructure. They look forward to contributing to upcoming proposals that will define the EU’s water policy in the years ahead.
