Bilbao hosts International Water Association’s first Digital Water Summit

The Spanish city of Bilbao has hosted the first edition of the International Water Association’s Digital Water Summit, bringing together participants from around the world to share insights into the opportunities for greater and more rapid deployment of digital technologies in the water sector.

The Summit, which ran from 30 November to 2 December, built on IWA’s established Digital Water Programme and focused on connecting water utility end users with digital innovators and solutions providers.

Co-organised with local water utility Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia and AEAS – the Spanish Water and Wastewater Association – the aim of the Summit was to support the sector on its ‘digital transformation journey’.

The Summit explored key questions, such as: What is digital water? What is the difference between digital water and digitalisation? How can we make the water industry more digitally aware?

Held at Bilbao’s Euskalduna Conference Centre, the event featured keynote and technical presentations, InnoHub presentations and exhibits on commercial solutions, and interactive sessions in which participants were able to engage in the debate around the digital journey.

Oliver Grievson, Chair of IWA’s Digital Water Programme, reflecting on the importance of digital water today, commented during the event:

“We can’t achieve Net Zero without digital tools, without measuring to manage. Digital water is an integral part of how we address current challenges such as climate change.”

The event highlighted the potential for digital water and digitalisation to help tackle a wide range of issues in the water sector worldwide.