Use of Digital Technology to Calculate Water Footprints for Different Daily Use Items

Abstract

Water security is a global concern for utilities due to urbanization and climate change. Although water utilities are directly affected by climate change, greenhouse gas emissions are also a result of their activities. Urban water cycles are becoming more sustainable as a result of the efficient operations of utilities made possible by digital technologies. Nonetheless, there is still a dearth of research on the global advancement of digital water transformation. Here, we report on the findings of an online survey that 64 utilities from 28 countries participated in to learn more about the digital transformation's effects on the water utility industry, its drivers, and the main technologies that make it possible. We discovered that the water distribution system serves as the gateway for additional digital technology adoption throughout the entire urban water cycle. In addition, the main forces behind the adoption of technology are economic gains, governmental regulations, and hydroclimatic conditions. We identify areas for future research aimed at improving our understanding of the role that company culture, consumer involvement, and regulations play in effective digital transformation, based on the survey results.