Published on 05/11/2025
In a recent article of Panagiotis Demestichas on Michanikos‑Online, (Π. Δεμέστιχας: ΔΙΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΗ ΥΔΑΤΙΝΩΝ ΠΟΡΩΝ: ΕΥΚΑΙΡΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΗ ΚΑΙΝΟΤΟΜΩΝ ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΩΝ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ – Michanikos Online, he explores how ICT, IoT and AI technologies can drive the transformation of water-resource management.
You can read the English version of the article below:
P. Demestichas: WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, ALSO FOR GREECE
Panagiotis Demestichas, Electrical Engineer, National Technical University of Athens, Professor, University of Piraeus / Department of Digital Systems, WINGS ICT Solutions
1. INTRODUCTION – WATER AS A SOURCE OF GLOBAL CONCERN
In our times, beyond geopolitical issues, energy, and the proper exploitation of mineral wealth, water is a growing source of concern. Worldwide, issues related to water quality, availability, accessibility, and cost are of major importance.
Given this, the United Nations (UN) has, from the outset (since 2012), included “water” among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [1,2].
The SDGs aim to achieve prosperity while protecting the planet. They focus on issues such as poverty and hunger, health and education, gender equality and social inequality, decent work, strong institutions and democratic processes, resilient infrastructure and sustainable cities, and sustainability in terms of economic growth, industry and innovation, responsible production and consumption, energy, climate, and life below water and on land.
Within this framework, water occupies a prominent place, being Goal 6 (SDG6): Clean water and sanitation for all.
Some of the key points for achieving SDG6 include:
- Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
- Improving water quality through actions such as reducing pollution and untreated wastewater, minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals, and increasing recycling and safe reuse.
- Increasing water-use efficiency and implementing integrated water resource management, while protecting water-related ecosystems (mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, wetlands, aquifers).
- Taking action at local/national levels, in coordination with international collaborations.
Although 2030 has been set as the target year, only 35% of the goals show satisfactory or even moderate progress [3]. While progress has been made in the water sector [4], achieving universal access by 2030 will require a significant acceleration of current efforts.
2. CHALLENGES IN THE WATER SECTOR
Below we highlight global issues and specific regional cases in the USA, United Kingdom, and Greece.
Global situation [4]
Despite notable progress, billions of people still lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. In 2022, half of the world’s population experienced severe water scarcity, and one quarter faced “extremely high” water stress levels.
By 2050, the urban population experiencing water scarcity is projected to reach 1.7–2.4 billion people (up from 930 million in 2016).
In 2024, 2.2 billion people still lacked access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion lacked adequate sanitation services.
USA
The U.S. faces serious challenges regarding water quantity and use [5]. As a response, various observatories and organizations have been established to record and map water systems and reserves [6–9].
These initiatives have mobilized authorities and led to policy announcements for modernizing water infrastructure [10].
United Kingdom
Although it might seem counterintuitive, the UK faces water scarcity issues. The first six months of 2025 were the warmest in the last 50 years [11].
Despite its reputation for rainfall, the country struggles due to population growth, climate change (e.g., droughts in 2022 and 2025), wasteful water use (stemming from the misconception that water is inexhaustible), and insufficient investment [12].
European Union (EU) and Greece
Across Europe, it is now widely accepted that water can no longer be taken for granted [13,14].
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, facing heatwaves, floods, droughts [15], and wildfires — all of which affect water availability.
The EU acknowledges that inequalities related to water must be addressed, both regionally and globally, to avoid economic, social, and geopolitical consequences.
To this end, a “Water Resilience Strategy” has been established [13], which will be further detailed in specific programs and supported by water-sector stakeholders.
In Greece, water scarcity has been a recurring issue that periodically reaches critical levels. Recent data indicate that we are again entering such a period [16–18], as water reserves have declined by 40% in the past 2–3 years. Similar alarming conditions are observed in Thessaloniki [19].
Table 1. Water Challenges and Strategies by Region
| Region | Main Problem (Indicative) | Strategy / Policy |
| Global | Drinking water, sanitation | UN SDG [3,4] |
| USA | Infrastructure | Water Infrastructure Modernization Act [10] |
| UK | Water scarcity, infrastructure | Water use policies [11] |
| EU / Greece | Water scarcity | Water Resilience Strategy [13] |
From the above, it is evident that the problems are largely shared across regions. The next section presents possible solution directions.
3. SOLUTIONS
3.1 General Directions
It is clear that water-related issues involve quantity, quality, and infrastructure. Therefore, solutions require:
- Input from multiple scientific disciplines (e.g., engineering, chemistry) and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Local as well as broader (regional, national, international) actions.
- Both short-term and medium-term measures.
Because of the situation’s complexity, solutions must be holistic, aiming for globally optimal results, while maintaining decision-making effectiveness.
Based on multiple studies ([20,21]), key directions include:
- Detailed needs assessment: Quantifying requirements for irrigation, drinking water, industrial and healthcare use; assessing wastewater systems and rainwater utilization.
- Forecasting water availability and increasing resources: Reliable predictions, desalination, recycled water use, deep aquifer extraction, with simultaneous energy optimization.
- Enhancing artificial infrastructures: Development and maintenance of reservoirs, wells, pumping stations, and distribution networks.
- Utilizing natural infrastructures: Collecting and channeling water for aquifer recharge and natural quality improvement.
- Optimizing water use: Assigning water of appropriate quality to each use, promoting reuse and reduction of unnecessary consumption.
- Awareness and behavioral change: Educating citizens about problems and encouraging sustainable consumption habits.
3.2 Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
ICT technologies play a pivotal role in water management. Their contribution is based on:
- IoT (Internet of Things):
Networks of interconnected devices (sensors, meters, cameras, drones, satellites) enabling real-time monitoring, data collection, and automated control actions. - Advanced communication networks:
Mobile and wireless networks (4G, 5G, NB-IoT, Cat-M, RedCap, LoRa, Wi-Fi) offer fast, secure, and cost-effective data transmission, enabling large-scale connectivity. - AI (Artificial Intelligence):
Includes perception, reasoning, decision-making, and machine learning. AI enables forecasting, anomaly detection, optimization, and automated decision support. - Visualization and applications:
From mobile/web interfaces to virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) systems and gamified tools for public awareness and behavior change. - Digital Twins [23,24]:
Dynamic digital representations of physical systems that enable real-time monitoring, prediction, simulation, and decision-making.
Digital twins combine data-driven architectures, simulation tools, and 3D visualization, allowing virtual testing of policies before real-world implementation.
Thus, ICT provides comprehensive capabilities for managing complex and dynamic water systems.
3.3 ICT Application in Water Management
Effective application of ICT in water management requires two main steps:
- Defining implementation areas — identifying self-contained water management zones that allow rapid decision-making and technology reuse.
- Leveraging technology — applying the right combination of ICT tools for monitoring, analysis, and optimization.
Table 2. Summary of ICT-Based Actions in Water Management
| Technology | Applications and Benefits |
| IoT (Internet of Things) | Holistic spatiotemporal monitoring: mapping underground and surface water reserves, tracking consumption by sector, monitoring infrastructure conditions. |
| Networks (Wireless / Licensed or Unlicensed Spectrum) | Use of mobile/wireless communication networks (4G, NB-IoT, Cat-M, RedCap, 5G, etc.) and, in specific cases, unlicensed spectrum networks. |
| AI (Artificial Intelligence) | Forecasting water needs and availability; optimal planning of supply systems; resource management (wells, desalination, recycling); aquifer recharge planning; leveraging rainwater and scientific advances. |
| DT (Digital Twins) – Visualization / Applications | Simulations of weather, climate, demand by sector, user behavior, and infrastructure resilience; gamification for awareness and behavioral change. |
4. OPPORTUNITY FOR GREECE AND THE TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM
As shown, water challenges are global and largely shared. Differences mainly concern the relative importance of quantity versus quality.
Interdisciplinary cooperation is essential: while ICT plays a major role, construction, energy, and mechanical engineering companies also have critical contributions to make.
Public–private partnerships are likewise vital — the public sector must provide planning, resources, and frameworks to leverage the nation’s capabilities.
In particular, there is a significant opportunity for Greek ICT companies, both SMEs and larger enterprises:
Since the challenges are common worldwide, successful and competitive Greek implementations can serve as reference cases and lead to the export of technology and know-how.
This should become a national goal, marking a shift from the typical pattern of importing foreign technologies (often uncritically) to developing and exporting domestic innovation — thus contributing to a transformative change in Greece’s production model.
