Event: IWA Digital Water Summit 2022

Date: November 2022

Location: Bilbao, Spain

Type of CPD: International conference / digital transformation / innovation and sector leadership

Duration: Multi‑day event (attended sessions, forums and bilateral meetings)

Summary of the Event

I attended the IWA Digital Water Summit 2022 in Bilbao, a flagship global event dedicated to accelerating digital transformation across the water sector. The summit brought together utilities, technology companies, researchers, regulators and digital specialists to explore how data, automation, real‑time monitoring and advanced analytics can reshape water and wastewater operations.

The programme included keynote presentations, technical sessions, innovation showcases, utility case studies and strategic discussions on digital maturity, data governance and the future of digital water. The event provided a comprehensive view of global progress and challenges in adopting digital tools at scale.

Key Themes Covered

• Digital transformation and utility modernisation Strategies for embedding digital culture, skills and governance.
• Real‑time monitoring and sensing technologies Biological, chemical and physical data streams for operational optimisation.
• Digital twins and predictive analytics Modelling, simulation and AI‑driven decision support.
• Cybersecurity and data integrity Protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring trust in digital systems.
• Customer‑centric digital services Transparency, engagement and improved service delivery.
• Innovation ecosystems Collaboration between utilities, technology providers and research institutions.