Rethinking resilience: How utilities are scaling solutions to close the innovation gap
Around the world, water utilities are rethinking resilience – not by waiting for new breakthrough technology, but by scaling proven solutions today to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
From France to Mexico and China to Italy, forward-thinking utilities are putting smart tools into action – closing the innovation gap and building more efficient, adaptive systems at scale.
The growing pressure on water utilities
Water systems built for predictability are now facing growing populations, aging infrastructure, and volatile weather patterns. The challenge isn’t finding solutions – it’s applying them with urgency and focus.
The Rethinking Resilience report from Global Water Intelligence and Xylem maps the size of the gap. In 2025, cities are expected to invest over $400 billion in water infrastructure. But meeting future demand with traditional approaches would require nearly four times that, $1.5 trillion a year. Smarter strategies could cut that cost in half.
“It’s not necessarily about the innovation gap,” says Athens Water CEO Harry Sachinis. “It’s about how efficiently you can bring those innovations into action.”
That’s exactly what leading utilities are doing – moving with urgency, leveraging proven solutions, and accelerating impact. Below are examples of utilities adopting leak detection, digital operations, and water reuse to build smarter systems for the future.
French utility implements smart leak detection
In western France, Eau du Ponant deployed advanced in-pipe tools across 22 kilometers of drinking water mains, serving over 310,000 residents – all without disrupting service.
SmartBall, a device the size of a tennis ball, identified five leaks. PipeDiver, equipped with 96 ultrasonic sensors, followed up to assess structural integrity. With the data from these inspections, the utility can now prioritize repairs where they matter most, instead of replacing entire pipe segments.
The result is focused investment, fewer surprises, and sustained value for both the economy and the environment.
Hot Springs and Monterrey lead with data-driven resilience
Smart infrastructure is no longer aspirational. It’s essential. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, utility leaders deployed advanced metering infrastructure alongside pressure and leak monitoring. The result: a nearly 50% reduction in non-revenue water.
In Mexico, Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey (SADM) uses real-time hydraulic modeling to optimize pressure zones and respond to impacts from heatwaves and heavy rain before they disrupt service.
Both cities demonstrate how data-enabled operations drive faster, more resilient decision-making.
Austin and Beijing make water reuse a strategic priority
Water reuse is becoming a cornerstone of resilience. It supports economic growth, protects ecosystems, and reduces pressure on freshwater supplies. Beijing Drainage Group operates the world’s largest water reclamation system – treating and reusing over 5 million tons of wastewater daily across 17 plants.
Across the region, recycled water is used to replenish rivers, irrigate parks, clean streets, and support firefighting. The tech sector and other industries also rely on it for non-potable needs.
Policy has enabled this scale. In 2021, China set targets for water-scarce cities to meet 25% of demand with recycled water by 2025. In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the goal is over 35%.
Austin, Texas, is also embedding water reuse into its long-term planning. Its Water Forward plan includes aquifer recharge, indirect potable reuse, and diversified source development to reduce dependence on the Colorado River.
Scaling reuse requires more than infrastructure. Adoption also depends on clear quality standards, enabling policy, and financial incentives like industrial tax credits.
Publiacqua cuts energy use with efficient wastewater treatment
In most wastewater treatment plants, aeration accounts for a significant share of total energy use. Optimizing this one function can yield major gains in efficiency – especially as electricity prices rise.
In Tuscany, Italy, Publiacqua is meeting the challenge with predictive maintenance, smart pumps, and AI-enabled monitoring systems. The utility, which serves over 600,000 people and treats 65 million cubic meters of wastewater annually, has reduced energy use by up to 50% at one plant.
It has also deployed real-time leak detection, meter analytics, and network modelling, allowing operators to respond to shifting demand with live insights instead of static schedules.
Dubai’s bold investment protects against future floods
For decades, Dubai focused its water strategy on scarcity. But after severe floods in April 2024, the city swiftly committed $8.2 billion to overhaul its stormwater infrastructure.
Once complete, the new system will increase capacity by 700% – handling up to 20 million cubic meters of water a day.
Centralized decision-making, strong reserves, and efficient delivery made the project possible. But the challenge is not unique. Cities everywhere must decide how to fund systems that may sit idle but are essential in a crisis.
This type of investment underscores a key principle: resilience is not a cost – it's a safeguard. For every dollar invested in hazard mitigation, communities can avoid up to six dollars in future damage.
Building resilient water systems, today
Across these diverse geographies and challenges, one pattern is clear: leading utilities aren’t waiting. They’re scaling what works, aligning technology with outcomes, and building resilience into the fabric of their operations.
Closing the innovation gap means more than deploying tools. It requires enabling policy, strategic investment, and building local capacity to move fast.
The utilities featured in Rethinking Resilience aren’t just improving their water systems – they’re strengthening communities, protecting resources, and setting a new standard for infrastructure leadership.
To explore more insights and examples, download the full Rethinking Resilience report from Global Water Intelligence and Xylem.