Page 162 - ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services – Executive Summary

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

In line with the “Europe 2020” strategy, the European Commission proposed different actions to create a
“resource-efficient” Europe and promote awareness on the sustainable use of water resources. In the recent
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publication by the European Commission (EC) “A Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources” the
authors clearly recommended the adoption of water efficiency measures such as pricing policies, which can
result in reducing water consumption as well as saving energy. In particular, they point out that pricing is a
powerful awareness-raising tool for consumers and combines economic benefits with environmental
aspects, while at the same time stimulating innovation.

1.2 Challenge and response

Studies and tests have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of water demand management (WDM)
policies and determine the role of consumers in it. The key findings showed that savings achieved from WDM
policies can benefit the entire water and wastewater system however smart meters may not be effective
unless instilled consumers’ habits or attitudes can be also changed. Combining real time data given by social
media and phone applications, with information about the socio-demographic and psycho-social profile of
the consumers can provide the basis to determine target water policy approaches such as flexible and
accurate pricing schemes while educating citizens on their water consumption.

2 The Project

2.1 Vision and content
The mission of the SmartH2O project is to develop an ICT platform (as shown in Figure 1) to:

 Understand and influence the consumers’ behaviour, based on historical and real-time water usage
data

 Determine how consumer behaviour can be influenced by various WDM policies: water savings
campaigns, social awareness campaigns, to dynamic water pricing schemes

 Raise the awareness of water consumers on their current water usage habits and implications and
to encourage them to decrease their water use.

The SmartH2O ICT platform will enable water managers to close the loop between actual water consumption
levels and desired targets, using information about how the consumers adapt their behavior to new
situations: new regulations, new water prices, and appeals to water savings. This feedback will allow to aptly
revise the WDM policies, enabling to maximise the water and energy saving goals.

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45 EC (European Commission). A Blueprint to Safeguard Europe´s Water Resources. Communication from the
Commission to the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions [COM(2012) 673 final (14.11.2012)]. 2012. Brussels, European Commission.

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