Project

According to the Federal Statistical Office, every person in Germany consumes almost 130 liters of water per day. It is high time to rethink municipal water supply and disposal: what can smart water management in buildings and outdoor areas look like? In the InDigWa network, Fraunhofer ISI is working jointly with Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IGB on precisely this question. Together with industrial partners, the researchers are focusing on water supply in neighborhoods. The focus is on conserving water as a resource, strengthening the climate resilience of the entire drinking water cycle, saving energy and reducing hygiene problems.

Future scenarios meeting water think tank

The innovative approach of the InDigWa network consists of linking the individual digital and water resource-efficiency innovations of the industry partners and integrating them synergistically within a comprehensive system. The innovation network covers the entire spectrum of drinking water supply: From water extraction, treatment and use in specific neighborhoods to disposal and reuse. This creates a comprehensive think tank that aims to develop various future scenarios for a data-based increase in the efficiency and quality of drinking water supply and urban irrigation purposes.

Neighborhood in Bremen – piloting innovations

The innovations will be installed in a GEWOBA neighbourhood in Bremen and scientifically tested for their effectiveness over a period of one to two years. The planned measures include, for example, the installation of smart fittings such as water-saving showers and separate service and drinking water circuits within apartments. The aim is to use water more sustainably and sparingly.

A new type of rainwater management system is planned for the outside area that can deal with both heavy rainfall (very high volumes of water in short periods of time - risk of flooding) and periods of drought (high water requirements in the absence of rainfall, irrigation requirements for outdoor facilities) and manage the required or accumulating volumes of water. An important component is the development of an efficient irrigation system that reduces the use of drinking water and improves the ecosystem services of the green outdoor facilities.

The InDigWa innovation network strives to make a significant contribution to the further development of water management through its interdisciplinary cooperation and the use of state-of-the-art technologies. The partners are confident that their joint efforts will lead to a sustainable, efficient and reduced drinking water supply model of the future, which can become a role model for many urban districts in Germany.

Further information can be found on the Fraunhofer-Morgenstadt website (avaible in German only):  InDigWa-Netzwerk.

Available in German only: "Die Zukunft unserer Trinkwasserversorgung: digital, smart, nachhaltig - Bridging Innovation - Wissenschaft trifft auf Praxis"