Digital Water Metering Significantly Reduces Consumption — New European Study Shows Major Potential
A new EU study conducted by VITO for WE Data Europe clearly demonstrates that digital water metering and individual meters are among the most effective tools for reducing water consumption in buildings. The results show savings of up to 25%, while also highlighting significant operational and environmental benefits for administrators, operations staff, and consumers.
Background: Water Is Becoming a Scarce Resource
Europe is facing increasing pressure on its water resources. According to the European Environment Agency, around one third of the EU population experiences water scarcity every year, and the situation is expected to worsen due to climate change and rising consumption.
As a result, the European Commission is working to safeguard Europe’s water resources through a new Water Resilience Strategy and the initiative Smart Water Metering for All, scheduled for launch in 2026. The goal is to increase water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 — and the study shows that modern water metering can deliver far more than that.
Digitalisation Makes the Difference
The study compares data from three million annual consumption readings, of which approximately half a million were used in the analysis — distributed across seven EU countries, including Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The results reveal a clear pattern:
Country Average Reduction in Water Consumption
Belgium 13.6% (with leak detection)
Spain 12.3% (digital vs analogue metering)
France 7.5% (with leak detection)
Denmark 5.2% (transition to digital meters)
Netherlands 6.2% (transition to digital meters)
Germany 5.1% (consumption-based billing)
On average, digital meters reduce water consumption by around 8%. However, the potential increases significantly when digital systems are combined with leak monitoring, consumption-based billing, and real-time access to consumption data. In these cases, savings can reach as much as 25%
EU Regulation and Untapped Potential
Currently, only Bulgaria and Poland have full legal requirements for individual cold water meters in all homes.
In Denmark, legislation only requires new buildings to be prepared for individual metering — for example through pipework and data exchange — while the meters themselves can be installed later. In many other EU countries, requirements apply only to new buildings or major renovations, and in some cases only in specific regions.
This highlights significant differences in regulation across the EU, as well as substantial untapped potential if digital water meters are widely implemented.
Technologically Ready — Regulatory Gaps Remain
Across Europe, many markets are well prepared for digital water metering from a technical perspective, yet legislation does not always require the installation of individual cold water meters in all buildings.
In several countries, new buildings must only be prepared for individual metering — for example through pipework and data exchange — while the meters themselves can be installed at a later stage. The study shows that even under these conditions, the transition to digital meters can reduce water consumption by around 5%.
This highlights a clear opportunity: when digital water metering is implemented more widely and combined with data-driven services, significantly greater reductions in water consumption can be achieved — even before regulatory requirements are fully in place.
What Does This Mean for Property Management?
For Danish administrators and operations staff, the findings show that:
- Digital water metering is an investment in future-proof operations — both in relation to upcoming EU requirements and increasing pressure on resources
- Data-driven consumption creates new opportunities for optimisation, benchmarking, and documentation
- Resident engagement through apps, reports, and notifications is an effective way to drive behavioural change — and achieve additional savings
For property management, the message is clear: the earlier the transition to digital metering, the greater and more measurable the benefits — for both the environment and operating costs.