WATERDEAL is an ambitious collaborative research and innovation project addressing the urgent global challenge of water scarcity, infrastructure failures, and inefficient water management through digital transformation. With water demand rising and losses reaching up to 50% in some regions due to leaks, aging infrastructure, and inefficient distribution, the project leverages cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-edge computing to create smart, adaptive, and energy-efficient Water Supply Systems (WSSs).

Despite advances in digitalization, current water management solutions remain fragmented, and the full potential of data-driven optimization is largely untapped. WATERDEAL introduces novel, cost-effective strategies for sensor deployment, real-time leak detection, predictive maintenance, and demand-responsive water distribution, reducing energy consumption while enhancing resilience. The project’s interdisciplinary approach integrates expertise from water engineering, energy-efficient communication, AI-driven analytics, and secure digital infrastructure to develop scalable Smart Water Grid (SWG) technologies.

Through an international and intersectoral consortium of universities, research institutions, and industry leaders, WATERDEAL fosters knowledge exchange via structured secondments and staff exchanges, ensuring cross-disciplinary collaboration and hands-on innovation. By advancing next-generation AI-driven water management solutions, the project directly supports Europe’s digital transformation and sustainability goals, paving the way for a more efficient, resilient, and equitable water future.