Digital dilemma: tech's impact on water management in Europe

Digital tech is revolutionising Europe's water management systems, but its heavy consumption of the precious resource brings its own challenges.

Transcript

00:00What's the impact of digital technology on water. Digital tech helps manage water systems but it also uses a lot of water.

00:15It supports real time monitoring of water use and quality quicker leak detection and smart irrigation. Plus I can help forecast

00:24rainfall patterns. Twenty three percent of water in EU networks is lost before it gets to consumers. Digital solutions can cut

00:34leaks by 30 percent and reduce overflows in the sewer system. However digital tech and green energy mean higher water

00:42consumption. For example data centers use up to one point seven million liters of cooling water per day.

00:49Producing a car battery consumes around 26000 liters of water to offset this. The EU batteries regulation mandates sustainable water

00:59use throughout the batteries lifecycle. Digital tech will help us use water better. But it's also a thirsty consumer of resources.