Circular Economy in the Water Sector: Digitalization and Software Solutions for Sustainable Management
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.
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.
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.
Customer segmentation to promote water efficiency
Targeted campaigns to encourage responsible consumption
Behavioral tracking to help reduce waste
Discover the CRM module
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
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
Credit scoring to prevent defaults
Sustainable repayment plans
Reduction of manual and paper-based activities
Discover the Credit Management module
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
Self-service access to consumption data
Alerts on leaks or abnormal usage
Waste reduction and promotion of best practices
Discover the NetaWeb module
Green procurement and smart stock management
Asset lifecycle extension through proactive management
ESG reporting and reduction of paper usage
Discover NetaSIAL
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.