Blue Rush: the innovation race for fresh water supplies

Today, 2.2 billion people¹ have insufficient access to safe drinking water. According to the latest report from the World Meteorological Organization, available water resources worldwide are decreasing and water stress is affecting more and more regions. This phenomenon is due to changes in water cycles caused by human activities (waste, intensive irrigation, soil quality degradation, etc.) but also due to the consequences of climate change on the water cycle (rising temperatures, increasing episodes of drought, etc.).  
In 2023, glaciers, which contain approximately 60% of the world's freshwater², lost nearly 600 billion tonnes of water, a 50 year record. In Europe, renewable water resources per inhabitant have decreased by 24% over the last 50 years, whilst 20% of the territory is now affected annually by increasing water stress. Even France is not immune, as shown by the intense drought and water stress of summer 2022. 

Smart technology and the irrigation of agricultural land

Agriculture is the largest global consumer of fresh water, absorbing around 70% of available water resources³, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations⁴. In France, for example, the irrigation of agricultural land consumes more than half of all national freshwater, with the upward trend only set to continue given the ever more frequent incidences of drought. Faced with this stark reality, the so-called “smart irrigation” sector is undergoing a remarkable period of growth. 
So how do such systems work? Sensors scattered across the fields tell the farmer where to water, how much and at what time, by measuring several parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, wind speed and the rate of crop moisture loss through transpiration. 
In the face of extreme climate events, agrivoltaics, which involve installing solar panels across established farm-land, also appears promising. Pioneering in this field, the startup Ombrea has designed a system of adjustable shutters controlled by artificial intelligence that helps manage shade and prevent excessive loss of irrigation water through crop transpiration. This results in several resultant benefits: crop protection, solar energy production and water savings of up to 30% during the summer period. 

Reuse of treated waste-water 

The reuse of treated waste-water (IPR/DPR) is another particularly effective approach to addressing multiple episodes of water stress. Yet, in France, only 1% of water is currently recycled, compared to 14% in Spain or 10% in Italy.  But the "Water Plan", aimed at relaxing the water quality criteria required for watering green spaces or cleaning industrial equipment and facilities, should make it possible to reach 10% by 2030.
Artificial intelligence is playing an ever greater role in smart water management. Veolia, for example, has developed a "Reut" Box that optimises the processing of treatment plant waste-water for agricultural irrigation and urban maintenance, automatically adjusting parameters through predictive analysis. Aquatech Innovation has developed Aquaclear, a 100% biological system which, assisted by AI (Artificial intelligence), adapts to seasonal variations, transforming waste-water into "bathing water" for ports or campsites. These intelligent technologies maximise energy efficiency, whilst ensuring constant water quality, making water reuse more accessible and efficient.

Optimising infrastructure 

In France, the drinking water network extends over nearly 996,000 kilometres of pipeline infrastructure⁵, a significant proportion of which is increasingly showing its age. Each year, approximately 20% of the distributed water—nearly one billion cubic metres—is lost due to leaks alone. While the budget for network renovation has been estimated at more than 3 billion euros per year between 2015 and 2030, the use of artificial intelligence certainly represents an additional strategic lever. By cross-referencing data from sensors and employing predictive algorithms, AI enables more precise leak detection, anticipation of failures, optimisation of maintenance operations and securing service continuity, all while lowering operating costs.

Making desalination less polluting 

While desalination has long been used to address water shortages, the technology is very energy-intensive, polluting and costly. Faced with the environmental and energy limitations of conventional desalination processes, many companies are now developing more innovative and sustainable solutions. For example, the startup Mascara is developing reverse osmosis technology, powered by solar energy. This system filters pressurised seawater using semi-permeable membranes, while limiting its carbon footprint and controlling saline discharges into the marine environment. In addition, AI technologies are used in the predictive maintenance of the filtration membranes, increasing their lifespan and performance. Real-time analysis of operating parameters helps predict possible malfunctions, adjust operational conditions and reduce operating costs.

Drawing Inspiration from the Global South 

Having long lived with limited fresh-water supplies, the Global South⁶ has never hesitated to recycle treated waste-water for agricultural irrigation, street cleaning, industrial processes, watering green spaces and even human consumption.
For more than 50 years, Namibia has been a world pioneer in sustainable water management. The very first factory in the world capable of directly transforming waste-water into drinking water was inaugurated in 1968 in the capital, Windhoek. Today, it can supply 35% of the city's drinking water needs. This bold solution has inspired many countries to follow suit. Singapore, with its NEWater programme, has prioritised education to gain acceptance for this solution and is aiming for 55% recycled water by 2060. Israel reuses more than 80% of its waste-water for agriculture, thus helping with the greening of semi-desert areas. Finally, California, affected for many years now by chronic droughts, operates one of the largest recycling plants in the world, where recycled water is reintroduced into groundwater aquifers. 
Faced with the increasing scarcity of water, innovation is therefore essential in building a more efficient, resilient and equitable water management system.