The effective management of water is becoming more and more important as the world’s supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing. ICTs are an important enabler to help improve the management of this valuable natural resource.
They could do so through advanced metering technologies which would for example allow for real-time communication of consumption patterns or through innovative demand forecasting technologies to name just a few examples.
The ICT Programme will fund research and demonstration projects under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) in the near future (2011-2012) as well as a thematic network to bring together the ICT and Water constituencies through the ICT Policy Support Programme of the Competitiveness and Innovation (CIP) . On a broader level, the FP7 is addressing the water challenge through the Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform (WssTP) which brings together key players to promote research and technology in the water sector. The platform developed a common vision for water, including a strategic research agenda, towards integrated water resources management.
Objective ICT-2011.6.3 ICT for efficient water resources management
Water management enabled by ICT is a new and promising area with the objective to integrate real-time knowledge on demand and supply across water distribution networks and water sources. The work to be done calls for partnerships between ICT equipment providers, software companies and water authorities.
Targeted outcomes:
ICT-enabled solutions for integrated water resources management (IWRM), involving as key building blocks: innovative demand management systems, decision support systems and data management technologies.
The proposed ICT solutions shall involve robust and proven technologies permitting a holistic approach towards IWRM, and possibly include new data management technologies with real-time predictive capability demand forecasting, advanced metering, real-time communication of consumption patterns, adaptive pricing, and/or combined energy and water management schemes.
Projects should cover:
(i) research and innovative integration of solutions,
(ii) substantial validation of these in at least two real-life operational environments in collaboration with responsible water authorities and utilities,
(iii) evaluation of their anticipated cost and benefits and market prospects.
Consortia must be compact with partners each making substantial contributions.
Expected impact:
– New partnerships between European water distributors, water management equipment suppliers and the ICT sector.
– Enhanced supervision of water networks leading to better management of supply and flows, and quantifiable water consumption reduction.
Funding schemes:
STREPs
Indicative budget distribution
EUR 25 million
Call
FP7-ICT-2011-8
