The project’s Water Data Management Ecosystem (WDME) offers practical insights and policy recommendations to foster a digitally empowered, resilient water future in Europe.

The WATERVERSE project has released its third and final Policy Brief, “Contributions for the EU Digitalisation Action Plan in the Water Sector”, outlining how its flagship innovation, the Water Data Management Ecosystem (WDME),  can support the European Union’s ambitions for a smart, data-driven water sector.

Developed through collaboration among 17 partners across 10 EU countries, the WDME showcases how digital technologies can make water data affordable, secure, FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), and easy to use. By doing so, WATERVERSE helps bridge data silos, enhance the resilience of water utilities, and strengthen Europe’s water governance.

The Policy Brief proposes five recommendations for the upcoming EU Digitalisation Action Plan:

  1. Compile best practices from projects like WATERVERSE and set national targets for digital water management.
  2. Embed digitalisation into water legislation through harmonised data requirements and governance models.
  3. Prioritise digital innovation in EU funding instruments to accelerate the uptake of smart water tools.
  4. Promote interoperability through open standards and open-source reference platforms.
  5. Foster AI and advanced analytics in water utilities to drive the transition to smart, adaptive water management.

Real-world pilots in the Netherlands, Cyprus, and Germany demonstrate the WDME’s value: from predictive water quality management to digital twins for flood prevention. These pilots show that data interoperability and stakeholder trust are fundamental to a successful digital transformation.

For more information and to download the Policy Brief, click here.