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Call for Evidence: EU-wide Action Plan on digitalisation in the water sector

The European Commission has launched a Call for Evidence to support the development of a new EU-wide Action Plan on digitalisation in the water sector.

The European Commission has launched a Call for Evidence to support the development of a new EU-wide Action Plan on digitalisation in the water sector. This initiative forms a key pillar of the EU Water Resilience Strategy, aimed at modernising water infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating the adoption of digital technologies across Europe.

Why this matters

EU water management requires a smart, digital system to improve real-time forecasting and reduce costs. This initiative accelerates digitalisation through 3 pillars: AI-driven big data, large-scale Internet-of-Things deployment and routine Earth observation. The initiative aims to provide reliable services, cut red tape and foster a competitive market. Improving cross-border cooperation and transparency can ensure better data for the public and smarter management of the EU’s water resources.

Call for Evidence

The European Commission is seeking expertise, evidence, and best practices from stakeholders across the water sector. Stakeholders from public bodies, utilities, research organisations, industry, and community groups are encouraged to participate.

Interested parties can contribute through the official online consultation: Water sector – accelerating digitalisation for better management and sustainability

Submit evidence here

Deadline for submissions: 24 June 2026

Further information

Commission seeks input on digital action plan for water sector – Environment

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.