Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Project

InDigWa - Integrated Digitalization of Water Supply

Together with Fraunhofer IAO, Fraunhofer ISI is supporting eight partners from industry, the water supply sector, and the housing industry in implementing digital use cases to improve efficiency in water supply and related energy consumption in a neighborhood managed by the Bremen housing association GEWOBA in Bremen. Indoors, data on temperature and flow rates are collected at the building and apartment levels to analyze usage patterns, assure hygienic delivery and identify potential savings in water and energy. Outdoors, a smart rainwater management system has been installed that collects and treats rainwater and uses it as needed to irrigate trees and residents’ gardens, thereby reducing the demand for drinking water and preventing the sewer system from becoming overloaded during heavy rainfall.

The scientific support will continue through the end of 2028.

InDigWa Annual Meeting in Bremen: Water in the Neighborhood as a Strategic Area of Action

As part of the Morgenstadt Innovation Partnership InDigWa (Integrated Digitalization of Water Management), the annual meeting of all innovation partners took place in Bremen on June 17, 2026, with additional key stakeholders from the housing sector, water supply, climate adaptation, and industry in attendance.

The focus was on positioning water in the neighborhood as a strategic area of focus in the context of climate change, security of supply, and integrated urban development. Presentations by Fraunhofer ISI highlighted both the relevance of the topic and the objectives of the InDigWa Innovation Partnership. It became clear that, in particular, linking internal system perspectives (e.g., buildings, neighborhoods) with external framework conditions (e.g., infrastructure, climate) offers key starting points for future solutions.

A particular focus was placed on the role of cross-sector collaboration. In their presentations, GEWOBA Chairman of the Board Manfred Corbach and SWB Chairman of the Board Dr. Karsten Schneiker highlighted the great importance of cooperation between the housing sector, utility companies, industry, and research. In particular, they emphasized the shared gain in knowledge for ensuring a resilient water supply in the long term and for developing livable neighborhoods.

The event thus underscored the relevance of the InDigWa approach to bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives and developing specific solutions at the intersection of water availability, heavy rainfall, and rising temperatures.

A supplementary outlook was provided in the context of the planned “Water and AI” think tank, which will address the potential of data-driven approaches for the planning, operation, and control of urban water systems in the spring of 2027.

The annual meeting was complemented by workshops organized by the innovation partners, during which ongoing and planned use cases were discussed, implementation in GEWOBA’s existing Gartenstadt-Süd neighborhood was addressed, and the multi-year data collection effort was finalized.

Gruppenfoto vom InDigWa-Jahrestreffen in Bremen am 17.06.26
© GEWOBA/Sarbach
InDigWa Annual Meeting in Bremen on June 26, 2026
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InDigWa is a Morgenstadt innovation partnership focused on the synergistic use of data in water management “from extraction through efficient distribution to resource-conserving use.”

The goal is to bring together all relevant stakeholders for the first time to increase both the efficiency and quality of the overall system through data-driven solutions, thereby improving water management at all levels. To this end, stakeholders - who have largely operated autonomously until now - and their various data formats are being interconnected, new value is being created, and joint, integrated business models are being developed.

Corporate partners in the overall project cover not only the sectors of water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management, but also the housing sector, building management, plumbing fixtures, water treatment, pumps, measurement technology, sensor technology, and digitalization.

While individual solutions already exist for both water supply and distribution as well as stormwater management, there is currently no integrated overall system. To develop a smart system, the corporate partners are implementing technical systems at the neighborhood level, collecting data on water demand, volume, temperature, etc., and having Fraunhofer ISI perform an integrated analysis of this data. Bringing these individual components together enables sustainable and efficient water and stormwater management. At its core are the intelligent linking of data, the testing and evaluation of new technical solutions, and measures to raise awareness and change behavior.

The »Use-Case Outdoor« subproject has developed a use case for efficient and tangible stormwater utilization at the neighborhood level by installing a smart stormwater management system for irrigating urban trees and relieving the sewer system during heavy rainfall. As part of the project, data will be collected and analyzed over a period of 3½ years.

The results will be used to identify potential efficiency gains in water supply and wastewater management for Bremen.

The goal of the »Outdoor Use Case« is to evaluate and further develop data-driven innovations aimed at improving the efficiency (water and energy) of drinking water supply and stormwater management in existing neighborhoods. Solutions are integrated into the overall system, evaluated, and opportunities for optimization are identified.

The project pursues the following subgoals:

  1. Scientific monitoring and evaluation of developed concepts for an efficient, climate-resilient, hygienic, and cost-effective drinking water and stormwater supply, as well as their interactions.
  2. Design of a data ecosystem as a basis for data management, control, and optimization, combined with strategies to ensure data quality and sustainable resource use.
  3. Promotion of collaboration and knowledge transfer through the exchange of ideas and joint project work.
  4. Public outreach and visibility of the results through technical communication, marketing, and the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
  5. Ensuring scientific independence to guarantee a neutral assessment of the developed concepts and technologies, avoid conflicts of interest, create transparency, and enable the transferability of the results to other cities and neighborhoods.

Pilot Neighborhood in Gartenstadt-Sued, Bremen

The innovations will be implemented in GEWOBA’s Gartenstadt-Süd neighborhood in Bremen, and their effectiveness will be scientifically monitored and tested over a period of 3 years. In the outdoor areas, a novel rainwater management system will be implemented that can handle both heavy rainfall (very high volumes of water in short periods, risk of flooding) and periods of drought (high water demand due to a lack of precipitation, irrigation needs for outdoor spaces) and manage the required or resulting water volumes. A key component is the development of an efficient irrigation system designed to reduce the use of drinking water and enhance the ecosystem services provided by the green outdoor areas.

Research is also being conducted within buildings as part of a subproject on water and energy efficiency. Planned measures include, for example, installing smart fixtures such as water-saving showerheads, as well as separate non-potable and potable water circuits within apartments. The goal of the overall project is to use resources locally, sustainably, and more efficiently.

Through its interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of state-of-the-art technologies, the InDigWa Innovation Network strives to make a significant contribution to the further development of urban water management. The partners are confident that their joint efforts will lead to a sustainable and efficient drinking water supply model for the future, one that can serve as a model for many urban neighborhoods in Germany.

Data collection for the “Outdoor Use Case” began at the end of 2025; initial interim results are expected in the course of 2026.

Publications and Further Information – in German Language

Project duration

July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028

Clients

  • GEWOBA Aktiengesellschaft Wohnen und Bauen
  • HAURATON GmbH & Co. KG
  • RX WATERTEC GmbH
  • swb Vertrieb Bremerhaven GmbH & Co. KGBEULCO GmbH & Co. KG
  • BELUCO GmbH & Co. KG
  • Elvaco AB
  • Georg Fischer AG
  • VIEGA GmbH und Co. KG

Further information can be found on the Fraunhofer Morgenstadt website under InDigWa-Netzwerk. (German language)

Data collection began on November 10, 2025, in conjunction with the UN Climate Change Conference:

Video: GEWOBA