Circular Economy and Water Cycle Management: A Challenge to Be Met with Innovation

Italy’s water sector is in urgent need of structural transformation: according to the White Paper “Valore Acqua per l’Italia” by The European House – Ambrosetti, only 17% of homes are equipped with smart water meters (compared to the EU average of 45%), and over 22% of the network is more than 50 years old. In light of these critical issues, digitalization and the adoption of circular economy models represent strategic levers for ensuring sustainable, efficient, and resilient water resource management.

Market Data: Losses Down, Recovery on the Rise

The 2024 Sustainability Report by Utilitalia and Fondazione Utilitas highlights encouraging signs:

• Water losses have decreased to 36.3%, down by 3% compared to 2021

• Sludge reuse from wastewater treatment has reached 90%, up from 84% in 2022

However, much progress still needs to be made. That’s where digital solutions and application platforms come into play—enabling automation, forecasting, monitoring, and active citizen engagement.

Circular Economy in the Water Cycle: Key Pillars of an Effective Strategy

Addressing water challenges requires an innovative and systemic approach. From resource efficiency to the valorization of by-products, including digitalization and energy self-production, here are the pillars of an effective strategy for sustainable and smart water management:

• Water resource efficiency: Reduce waste, improve operational efficiency, and minimize environmental impact during water abstraction.

• Wastewater reuse: Advanced treatments and phytodepuration to enable reuse in agriculture, industry, or aquifer recharge.

• Sludge and by-product valorization: Production of biogas, fertilizers, and construction materials from sludge to reduce waste and generate value.

• Renewable energy and self-production: Installations of photovoltaics and mini-hydro, potentially within Energy Communities, to reduce emissions and energy costs.

• Digitalization and Smart Water Management: IoT, AI, Big Data, and digital platforms for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven operations.

Neta Software Solutions for the Water Sector: Concrete Support for Circularity

Neta CRM – Awareness and Engagement for End Users

• Customer segmentation to promote water efficiency

• Targeted campaigns to encourage responsible consumption

• Behavioral tracking to help reduce waste

  Discover the CRM module

   

Neta MDM Water – Data at the Service of Sustainability

• Advanced analysis of smart meter and IoT sensor data

• Predictive maintenance and loss reduction

• Real-time alerts to users about abnormal consumption

  Discover the MDM Water module

   

Neta Billing – Transparent and Sustainable Billing

• Digitalization and automation to reduce paper, errors, and waste

• Real consumption = no more estimations or adjustments

• Chatbots and AI for customer service

  Discover the Billing module

   

Neta Credit Management – Proactive and Circular Credit Management

• Credit scoring to prevent defaults

• Sustainable repayment plans

• Reduction of manual and paper-based activities

  Discover the Credit Management module

   

Energy Community Module – Shared Benefits through Self-Production

Water utilities, being major energy consumers, can benefit from the creation of Renewable Energy Communities that bring together citizens and public entities to cut costs, reduce emissions, and lessen reliance on fossil fuels.

Discover the Energy Community module

NetaWeb – Monitor Usage, Empower Citizens

• Self-service access to consumption data

• Alerts on leaks or abnormal usage

• Waste reduction and promotion of best practices

  Discover the NetaWeb module

   

NetaSIAL – Circular Approach to Logistics, Inventory, and Procurement

• Green procurement and smart stock management

• Asset lifecycle extension through proactive management

• ESG reporting and reduction of paper usage

  Discover NetaSIAL

   

Conclusion: Digital Innovation at the Service of Water

The shift toward a circular model in the water sector requires a systemic vision where technological innovation, digital governance, and citizen participation go hand in hand. Engineering’s Neta application solutions act as a tangible accelerator of this transformation—integrating operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and service resilience.