For eight years, we – the EU member states – have been digitalising heat consumption together. We have done so as part of the EU’s goal of greater energy efficiency by 2030, and the accompanying requirement for digital metering and consumer insight from 1 January 2027. With reductions in energy waste, CO₂ emissions and operating costs, there can be no doubt: it works.
That is good. But not good enough.
Because what about cold water? With 2030 fast approaching, we are still dragging our feet on digital metering for cold water. It makes little sense: the data shows that the very same tools could deliver substantial savings on water, too.
According to a pan-European analysis by WE Data Europe, digital water meters cut consumption by 5–12 percent. Leak detection reduces it by 8–14 percent, while consumption-based billing alone saves 5 percent. Drawing on our experience from heating and combining these technologies could push savings as high as 25 percent.
The biggest waste of water lies in the data we don’t have
International research compiled by the International Energy Agency shows that inefficient operation and faults are widespread in European heating systems – and that data from digital meters makes it possible to pinpoint the problems. The same is true of water.
WE Data Europe’s analysis shows how operational faults can go undetected for years. Much of the waste is invisible: a constant, low level of night-time consumption may point to micro-leaks, while inefficient circulation leads to losses of both water and energy.
Our experience from the heating sector shows that data can detect inefficiency and waste earlier than people can. Water and heating face the same challenges, but when it comes to water, we lack the data.
Europe can reach the goal – but no one is putting water on the agenda
The EU holds the key to achieving its target of a 10 percent improvement in water efficiency by 2030: digital metering of cold water. Experience from the heating sector and the WE Data Europe analysis both point to this. The technology is already in place in every EU country, as it is used for heat billing. We simply aren’t using it for water.
Water is a sensitive subject. In many places we are fortunate that cold water is almost free, but this also means that the need for a debate on metering, pricing and responsibility is overlooked politically. Low prices can therefore lead to underinvestment in infrastructure, quality and leak control – and as a result, major European cities can end up losing as much as 40 percent of their water, because the maintenance of supply networks is not on the political agenda.
Action is the decisive tool
We can meet the EU’s target by reducing waste, strengthening security of supply and giving people better insight into their own consumption – using the tool we already have at hand: digital metering.
The EU’s requirement for digital heat metering from 1 January is just one step towards the finish line, but in truth we are already set for the home straight. Across the member states, heat metering is now largely digital. We can do the same for cold water.
There is only one thing missing: political action.
All it takes is the courage to open the debate on digitalising cold water. We need to use our toolbox where it can make a difference.
