Operational intelligence in water management is increasingly enabling utilities to convert complex data streams into real-time operational decisions, according to a new industry report analysing digital transformation trends.
The report, “Water Technology Trends 2025: Revolutionizing Water Management”, highlights how artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and centralized monitoring platforms are reshaping how water networks, treatment plants and resource systems are managed.
Operational intelligence in water management driven by four global trends
The analysis identifies four major trends shaping operational intelligence in water management:
- Advanced centralisation and monitoring: Fully integrated platforms aggregating real-time data across networks to improve visibility and rapid response to flooding, supply disruption or operational anomalies.
- Customised decision-making: Configurable dashboards and predictive tools that provide scenario-based recommendations to optimise performance and minimise risk.
- Predictive maintenance and algorithmic optimisation: AI-driven analytics identifying failure patterns through vibration, pressure and operational signals to reduce downtime and extend asset life.
- Integration with external technologies: Seamless connectivity with Business Intelligence and enterprise systems to support strategic planning and cross-department collaboration.
According to the report’s authors, operational intelligence frameworks strengthen resilience during extreme climate events by improving early warning capability and accelerating decision cycles.
Centralised monitoring systems provide real-time operational visibility across water networks.
From data centralisation to infrastructure resilience
Water utilities face mounting pressure from ageing infrastructure, regulatory requirements, workforce constraints and climate volatility. Operational intelligence systems aim to provide a unified view of assets, enabling operators to prioritise interventions, optimise energy use and maintain compliance.
The report was published by Xylem Vue, a digital water platform developed through a partnership between Xylem and Idrica. The platform integrates legacy systems with cloud analytics and AI-driven tools to provide a consolidated operational environment.
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