The 15th Annual SWAN Conference in Berlin (May 2025) brought together global utilities, technology innovators, and researchers to tackle the central challenge of our sector: how to scale smart water solutions from pilots to enterprise-wide transformation. Over three days, the conference’s interactive format— unconference sessions, deep dives into AI and digital twins, technical tracks, hands-on workshops, and a startup masterclass—fostered candid discussion and practical learning.
Networking was facilitated through speed networking sessions and meaningful connections that enabled the cross-pollination of ideas. The event offered a transparent look at progress, persistent hurdles, and new opportunities as hundreds of participants explored this year’s theme of “Scaling Smart Water”. Below is our collective take on the four main event themes that emerged from Berlin.
1. Foundation: Bridging the Gap Between Ambition and Reality
Despite the buzz around AI, digital twins, and analytics, the conference opened with a reality check. Jim Cooper of Arcadis shared select findings from AWWA survey data that revealed that while AI and digital twins are the most desired technologies, 71% of utilities have no current plans to implement digital twins. Only 24% have centralised data storage, 36% lack data governance, and 80% still rely on manual data exports—spreadsheets remain the primary analysis tool. As one of Jim’s colleagues humorously put, “every time someone uses a manual spreadsheet, a data fairy dies”.
The sector’s digital ambitions are outpacing foundational capabilities. Secure data transmission, robust governance, and breaking down IT/OT silos are prerequisites for transformation. As discussed in the “Don’t be Insecure: Own that Data” panel session, data strategy must precede data collection, and “legacy sensor reliability must be addressed before investing in advanced applications” (Daniel Nascimento, Welsh Water).
2. Trust & Value: The Cornerstones of Adoption
Trust was a recurring topic—both in terms of technology and public perception. In the UK, only 10% of the public trusts water companies, compared to 55% who trust impact organisations. This trust gap impacts adoption and regulatory support.
The rise of agentic AI and autonomous systems brings new trust challenges, especially the “black box” problem. Utilities voiced concerns about transparency and control as AI takes on more operational roles. Building trust—both inside organisations and with the public—will be essential as digital systems become more autonomous.
Another standout theme in the interaction with utilities was the diversity of value that smart water technology can deliver. Conference case studies from around the world showed that value isn’t just about ROI or cost savings—it’s also about resilience, such as faster recovery after disasters, improved public health or more efficient customer service. In order to create the greatest added value in such projects with municipalities, it is worth considering the use of an “opportunity lens” rather than solely a problem-focused approach. While smart water tech can solve some of the obvious issues, certain deployments/installations can deliver unexpected results as well as intangible benefits. Take the time to explore additional value areas when deploying solutions.
3. IoT is Ready to Scale: Infrastructure for the Next Era
A major highlight was the readiness of IoT networking technology to scale. The mioty protocol was showcased by SWAN Partner mioty Alliance for its ability to support hundreds of thousands of devices with fewer gateways and greater reliability, signalling a new era of interopable, robust, scalable IoT in water management.
A number of speakers across both the water and wastewater tracks emphasised that infrastructure technology has increasingly become more affordable and now is the time for utilities to leverage these advances to move from pilots to large-scale deployments. Gerhard Loots, CEO of Kallipr, specifically brought up an up and coming gamechanger – Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). These have the potential to leverage satellite and other aerial technologies to further level the playing field in global communication efforts, including by extending connectivity to previously underserved areas.
4. Ecosystem: From Siloed Operations to Collaborative Networks
Scaling smart water requires ecosystem thinking. Through one of the digital twin workshop sessions, a group co-facilitated by Idel Montalvo (Ingeniousware) and Sven Bengtsson (NSVA, Sweden), illustrated a vision of multi-agent systems (maintenance, procurement, water resource, operations, orchestration) working together to optimise networks. Additionally, real-world examples, like iFLUX’s groundwater monitoring, showed the power of combining sensor data with public and customer information.
The “Driving Change Where You Are” closing keynote (Lena Reinhard) used the beaver as a metaphor for transformation: small, persistent actions can reshape entire landscapes. Focus on what you can control and let persistence compound results over time.
Conclusion
The gap between aspiration and capability is real, but the path forward is clear: focus on foundational data management, communicate the full spectrum of value, build trust, embrace scalable IoT, and foster collaborative ecosystems.
Scaling smart water is not just about deploying more technology—it’s about getting the basics right, building trusted relationships, and thinking systemically about transformation. The players best positioned for the next phase will be those that invest in strong foundations, prioritise trust, and embrace ecosystem collaboration as the new normal. The future of smart water is collaborative, resilient, and ready to scale.
