Moreover, it highlights that, although numerous digital solutions are available in the market, their deployment is still too slow and uneven.158 X. MAIN CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF DIGITIZING THE WATER SECTOR: LEADING CASE AND PRIORITIES Many regions in the world (including the Mediterranean one) face severe challenges related to water scarcity, climate change, and population growth. Such issues are addressed by many countries through the adoption of digitization solutions in their water management strategies.159 Digital transformation offers immense value potential for the water sector.160 The study conducted by the Union for Mediterranean shows the benefits that digital solutions can bring, such as improved water resource management, enhanced decision-making through data analytics, increased energy efficiency, and proactive asset management.161 One of the key advantages of digitization is its ability to optimize water distribution systems (or networks). By applying IoT sensors and smart meters, “utilities can collect real-time data on water flow, pressure, and quality, allowing for the early detection of leaks, efficient water allocation, and improved maintenance planning. Furthermore, data analytics can provide valuable insights into consumption patterns, helping utilities develop demand management strategies and promote water conservation.”162 Also the EU Commission in its European Water Resilience Strategy of 2025 has underlined the need of deploying smart water metering across all economic sectors in order to help to achieve a rigorous monitoring of water flows and to help citizens and businesses to manage their water use more efficiently.163 To improve water efficiency and sustainable water management, the European Commission has also published – in June 2025 – a Recommendation on Water Efficiency.164 In such document, the Commission states that the implementation of the water efficiency principle (the principle of 158 EU Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 3.3, p. 15. 159 UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 6. 160 See M. Garrido-Baserba, L. Corominas, U. Cortes, D. Rosso, M. Poch, The fourth-revolution in the water sector encounters the digital revolution, in Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 54(8), 2020, p. 4698 ff. 161 UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 7. 162 UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 7. 163 European Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 2.2, p. 7. 164 Commission Recommendation of 4 June 2025 on guiding principles of water efficiency first, C(2025) 3580 final. 459 WATER GOVERNANCE AND RIGHT TO FOOD
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