This year is set to be another important year of progress for IWA’s Digital Water Programme, with last year’s success of IWA’s 1^st Digital World Water Congress from 24 May to 4 June 2021 illustrating well that digital technologies can support new approaches.

Thanks to the support of the entire IWA network, the Congress was well attended and executed. It showcased the flexibility that organisations have had to embrace. It also highlighted the digital transformation and its accelerated global uptake.

Building on its successes in 2020, the IWA Digital Water Programme (DWP) has continued to produce notable accomplishments. In 2021, we saw the launch of the Digital Transformation Hub and the Earth Observation for Water Management Community of Practice, and the publication of three white papers and the first book in the Digitalising Water book series. More information about the publications is available further down in this article.

The Digital Transformation Hub (DTHub) is a knowledge and experience repository of pilot projects which have utilised digital water products and services, their insights and lessons learned, and technology readiness levels. Since its launch in July 2021, the DTHub has highlighted six case studies from the Netherlands, Sweden, USA, Brazil, and Canada. These case studies follow themes on Operational Digital Solutions, Data Management, Sensors/Robotics, and IT-infrastructure & Security.

Do you have a case study to share? Complete this form!

The Earth Observation for Water Management Community of Practice (CoP) was launched in mid-2021 and it brings together experts from different sectors of the water industry interested in the use of Earth Observation technologies for improved water quality and quantity management.

Are you interested in joining this CoP? Complete this short form and contribute to the discussion!

Digital Water White Paper Series: Three white papers were published and added to the series. They are:

1. Digital Water: Operational digital twins in the urban water sector – The aim of this white paper is to highlight how digital twins can help the water industry to improve performance of its infrastructure. The white paper presents two case studies where online digital twins are used for operational decision support: one in a sewer network and the other in a water resource recovery facility.
2. The value of meta-data for water resource recovery facilities – The aim of this document is to present the ‘meta-data challenge’ and to highlight the need to consider meta-data when collecting information as part of good digitalisation practices.
3. An overview of the future of digital water from a YWP perspective – This white paper shows IWA’s commitment to the YWPs network, by empowering them to take a leading role in contributing to a water-wise world. Young members can utilise IWA’s network to connect and collaborate with international peers, enhance their career development, and raise their profile.

The first publication in the Digital Water Book Series is Digitalising Water – Sharing Singapore’s Experience. This book provides an overview of the digital tools available in the market as well as the impact of digitalisation on the water sector by sharing Singapore’s experiences. Professor Vladan Babovic, Digital Water Programme Steering Committee member, is the Editor in Chief of this series.

2021 was a productive year for the IWA Digital Water Programme, and a lot of this was possible through the hard work and dedication from the Steering Committee of the DWP. Even though I only became Strategic Programmes Officer in November, I am already encouraged by the passion shown and am eager to see what 2022 will hold.

If you are interested in finding out more about the DWP, you can visit our webpage Engage with the Digital Water Programme and join the IWA Connect group on Digital Water!

IWA Strategic Programmes Officer for Digital Water