“Digitalisation is an essential part of water resilience and our industry stands ready to deliver”
As Europe faces growing challenges around water scarcity and resource efficiency, the digital transformation of the water sector has never been more urgent. WE Data Europe, the European Association for Energy and Water Data Management, unites companies and organisations leading the way in smart metering and data-driven resource management. In this interview, Markus Weidling, CEO, and Sofia Lettenbichler, Managing Director of WE Data Europe, discuss how digital metering empowers both utilities and consumers to use water more efficiently. They share insights from a new pan-European study showing that smart water metering can reduce household consumption by up to 25%, highlighting how data, technology, and policy alignment can drive Europe’s transition towards a more sustainable and resilient water future.
WE Data Europe, the European Association for Energy and Water Data Management, brings together companies and organisations at the forefront of digital metering and data management across Europe. Could you briefly explain WE Data Europe’s mission and how it supports the digital transformation of the water sector?
Markus Weidling: At WE Data Europe, our mission is simple but powerful: you can’t manage what you don’t measure. We represent the companies that make it possible to collect, analyse, and act on energy and water data in buildings. By promoting the rollout of smart water and energy metering, we accelerate Europe’s transition towards more efficient, sustainable, and resilient resource management.
Sofia Lettenbichler: The digital transformation of the water sector starts with data. Digital metering enables real-time insights into how water is used, helping consumers understand and optimise their consumption. Our role is to bridge innovation and policy so that these solutions can scale across Europe.
Digital metering enables real-time insights into how water is used, helping consumers understand and optimise their consumption
You have just released a pan-European study, conducted by VITO, showing that smart water metering can reduce household consumption by up to 25%. What was the main motivation behind commissioning this research, and what do you consider its most significant finding?
S. L.: We wanted to move beyond assumptions and provide solid, Europe-wide evidence on how metering and submetering actually affect water use. Until now, most studies were national or local. This is the first analysis covering data from six EU Member States over multiple years. The results clearly show that digital metering, enabling leak detection, consumption-based billing, and feedback tools, can reduce water use by up to 25%.
M. W.: And the motivation was very practical. With the EU’s goal to improve water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030, our members knew we could already deliver much of that target today, with technologies that are tested and proven. The study confirms that smart water metering is one of the most cost-effective measures to achieve Europe’s water resilience objectives.
The study analysed data from six EU Member States and found water savings between 5% and 12% through the use of digital water meters. How should we interpret these figures in the broader context of Europe’s water efficiency and resilience goals?
The study confirms that smart water metering is one of the most cost-effective measures to achieve Europe’s water resilience objectives
M. W.: These figures are not theoretical, they’re real savings observed across thousands of households. A 5-12% reduction when moving from an analogue to a digital meter alone may sound modest, but it’s hugely significant when scaled to millions of dwellings across Europe. It shows that even before major infrastructure upgrades, we can already deliver meaningful efficiency gains.
S. L.: Exactly, and the savings potential doesn’t stop there. When you add behavioural feedback, leak detection, and awareness campaigns, the reduction is cumulative and reaches 25%. So, digitalisation is not just a long-term enabler, it’s a solution that delivers tangible results today.
From your perspective, what are the key takeaways for European water utilities? How can utilities leverage digital metering not only to save water but also to improve operational performance and customer service?
S. L.: Digital metering isn’t just about saving water, it’s about smarter operations. Utilities equipped with granular, real-time data can identify leaks faster, optimise pressure management, and reduce non-revenue water. They can also offer better customer service by helping users understand and control their consumption.
M. W.: From a management perspective, digitalisation helps utilities become more resilient. It enables predictive maintenance, water management and more transparent reporting. By tapping into the savings that digital metering provide, water utilities future proof their operations for the years and decades to come.
WE Data Europe represents both the energy and water data management communities. How can the lessons learned from energy digitalisation be applied to accelerate digital transformation in the water industry?
M. W.: In energy, particularly for heating and cooling, we’ve seen what’s possible when the right framework is in place. The Energy Efficiency Directive mandates that every consumer is billed according to their actual consumption — not estimates or averages. That simple principle has driven awareness, accountability, and ultimately, efficiency gains of 10–15% across Europe.
S. L.: We know it works because we have witnessed it. Once users can see their own consumption and are billed for what they truly use, behaviour changes naturally. The same approach can transform the water sector. If Europe establishes a comparable legal framework for individual water metering and consumption-based billing, we can replicate those efficiency gains and make water savings a reality everywhere.
The study highlights behavioural change as a major driver of savings. How can digital tools and data transparency help utilities engage consumers more effectively to achieve sustained reductions in water use?
S. L.: Behavioural change is where data truly becomes value. When people can see their consumption, in an app, on a bill, or via alerts, they start adjusting habits almost immediately. The study shows that awareness alone can lead to reductions between 7% and 20%. Real-time feedback turns passive users into active participants in water efficiency.
M. W.: And this creates a virtuous circle. Consumers save water, utilities reduce losses, and we can counteract water shortages before they occur.
A 5-12% reduction when moving from an analogue to a digital meter alone may sound modest, but it’s huge when scaled to millions of dwellings
Submetering — installing individual meters for each dwelling — has proven to be an effective way to reduce water consumption, yet it is still not required in some European countries. What do you see as the main barriers and opportunities for adopting submetering more widely as a policy tool to improve water efficiency across Europe?
By tapping into the savings that digital metering provides, water utilities future-proof their operations for the years and decades to come
M. W.: The barriers are mostly regulatory and structural. In many Member States, submetering isn’t yet required or is only mandatory for new buildings. The opportunity lies in harmonising legislation and recognising submetering as a policy tool for water efficiency, much as it already is for energy.
S. L.: Our study shows that countries with submetering obligations also show higher installation rates and – of course - achieve higher savings. If we could mainstream submetering across Europe, we would unlock enormous untapped potential, not only saving water but also improving fairness and transparency in billing.
By 2030, the EU aims to achieve at least a 10% improvement in water efficiency. As utilities move toward a digital, data-driven model, how do you see smart metering evolving, and what would success look like for Europe’s water utilities by 2030?
S. L.: Success means that digitalisation becomes the norm rather than the exception, that every building and every consumer has access to accurate, timely data on their water use through smart water metering. By 2030, we should see measurable progress towards the EU’s water efficiency target, driven by data and empowering citizens.
M. W.: Beyond efficiency, success also means resilience. In a changing climate, utilities that can monitor, predict, and optimise in real time will be the ones securing Europe’s water future. Digitalisation is not a luxury; it’s an essential part of water resilience, and our industry stands ready to make this a reality for consumers throughout Europe.