De Watergroep secures €350M EIB loan to modernize Flemish water infrastructure

Key initiatives include proactively replacing aging pipes with a high risk of leakage and integrating smart sensors across the network. These sensors will enhance real-time detection of leakages, reduce water loss, and enable rapid intervention, improving operational efficiency. Connectivity upgrades for the sensor network will further optimize data collection and analysis, aiding in predictive maintenance.

The investment also addresses climate change risks such as prolonged droughts and extreme weather events by ensuring infrastructure resilience. This modernization should strengthen the network’s capacity to deliver sustainable, high-quality drinking water to over 3.3 million clients while minimizing water losses and energy consumption.

While the overall investment plan is detailed, information regarding the procurement process for these sensors, including vendor selection, has not been made available in the public domain.

In 2023 alone, De Watergroep invested €136 million in its network, managing over 34,600 km of pipes. With this new funding, the company will continue its proactive renewal strategy, enhancing the resilience and efficiency of its water infrastructure across the four Flemish regions it serves.