The digital transformation of water was a central theme at WEX Global 2026, where industry leaders emphasised that technology must be supported by strategy, governance and organisational alignment. The international forum, focused on water, energy and climate change, brought together more than 270 participants from over 45 countries.
Held in Seville, the 20th edition of WEX Global featured more than 90 experts across 25 sessions addressing sustainable water management, artificial intelligence in the water cycle, circular economy innovation and public–private collaboration.
Digital transformation of water requires strategy and governance
Speakers throughout the programme stressed that digital transformation of water utilities must extend beyond software deployment. Governance structures, long-term planning and organisational engagement were identified as essential components.
Technical site visits included the Aljarafesa wastewater treatment plant, the Lower Guadalquivir Valley Irrigation Community and EMASESA, Seville’s municipal water utility. Delegates reviewed EMASESA’s data lake architecture and digital twin, integrated within the Xylem Vue analytics platform.
Manuel Romero, CEO of EMASESA, described digital transformation as “a lever for change in the service of water justice,” linking resilience, efficiency and public trust.
Dr Alaeldin Idris, Water Expert at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, noted that technology without governance can result in inefficiency. Darío Mauriño, Head of Innovation, Funding and Cooperation at EMASESA, emphasised that digital tools must operate within a clearly defined strategic framework that engages the full workforce. Román Ponz, Director of Digital Transformation at Global Omnium, highlighted the need to break down data silos to achieve effective system-wide visibility.
Collaboration and innovation across the water sector
Alongside technical discussions, WEX Global 2026 included networking sessions, site visits and the presentation of the WEX Global Awards, recognising best practices in climate resilience, circular economy, river basin management and digital transformation.
The event underscored the increasing role of integrated data systems and analytics platforms in supporting operational resilience and long-term sustainability across drinking water and wastewater services.
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