collection, delivery, and analysis through the use of “Data-as-a-Service (DaaS)” models.175 However, such models have not been widely applied in the WDN domain.176 From here, researchers aim to investigate the trends, obstacles, and motivations behind the implementation of Data-as-a-Service models in the water sector. The findings of such study provide valuable insights for utility managers looking for new ways to adopt innovative technologies and regulators and policymakers seeking to encourage utilities to make datadriven decisions.177 Recalling the new industrial revolution termed “Industry 4.0” – which allows the use of emerging technologies with better monitoring and control capabilities, and better computational and decision support systems to optimize the operation of water supply systems – some scholars have proposed the concept of “Water 4.0.”178 In Water 4.0, various technologies, such as cyber physical system, internet of things, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, as well as cloud computing can be applied in WDN, for example, routing in WDN, optimal pump control and leakage detection.179 Besides the benefits that digital solutions can bring, the water sector needs to address important challenges, like technical capacity, data privacy and security, regulatory framework (ad regulatory policies), financial constraints, institutional collaboration, as well as standardisation, interoperability, the fragmentation of the key actors.180 Not less critical is the social dimension, given the general aversion in the water sector to roll out digital technologies at scale, partly due to the gaps that emerge when digital solutions are installed and operated alongside outdated equipment in waterworks.181 To overcome such issue, the policy brief by the EU Commission recommends that a broader social awareness on digitization in the water sector is needed, as well as the digital literacy within water utilities and administration is required.182 175 See A. Cahn, D. Katz, A. Ghermandi, P. Prevos, Adoption of data-as-a-service by water and wastewater utilities, in Utilities Policy, 81, 2023. 176 J.M. Blanco et al., A formal model, cit., p. 2078. 177 See A. Cahn, D. Katz, A. Ghermandi, P. Prevos, Adoption of data-as-a-service, cit. 178 See K.B. Adedeji, A.A. Ponnle, A.M. Abu-Mahfouz, A.M. Kurien, Towards digitalization of water supply systems for sustainable smart city development - water 4.0, in Applied Sciences, 12, 2022. 179 J.M. Blanco et al., A formal model, cit., p. 2079. 180 UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 7 and 9 ff.; U. Stein, et al., Digitalisation in the Water Sector, cit., p. 8, 11-13. More recently, see also European Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 3.2, p. 13-14. 181 U. Stein, et al., Digitalisation in the Water Sector, cit., p. 8. 182 U. Stein, et al., Digitalisation in the Water Sector, cit., p. 13. See also European Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 2.3, p. 11. 461 WATER GOVERNANCE AND RIGHT TO FOOD
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTE4NzM5Nw==