We welcome the European Commission’s initiative to develop a European Water Resilience Strategy, which is set to be published in Q2 2025. Reliable access to water is fundamental for people, nature, and the economy alike. Strengthening water security will not only protect the environment but also safeguard economic stability and the competitiveness of European businesses. We support the Commission’s efforts to integrate water resilience across policies, foster collaboration between stakeholders, and create a framework for sustainable and efficient water management.
So far, EU regulations on water reuse focus primarily on agriculture and largely overlook the potential of industrial and digital applications. Digital technologies play a crucial role in reducing water consumption and pollution across various sectors. In agriculture, satellite data and plant growth models enable precise fertilization, minimizing groundwater pollution. Smart industrial and building technologies, such as sensors and AI-driven climate and process control, have been shown to significantly reduce water consumption and pollution. Digital twins can improve climate resilience in an urban context, by eliminating silos and enabling better decisions on how infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained across sectors. Cloud-based solutions further enhance water efficiency by enabling real-time leakage- and contamination detection, optimizing industrial processes, and supporting precision and clean irrigation. These innovations highlight the potential of digitalization to strengthen water resilience.
To ensure that digital growth goes hand in hand with sustainable water management, our paper presents key policy recommendations.
