Dutch drinking water utility Brabant Water, in partnership with Xylem (NYSE: XYL), is creating one of Europe’s largest digital water networks, serving 2.6 million residents and businesses across North Brabant. To meet rising demand, the utility is deploying a digital twin and smart metering solutions to build a more efficient, resilient water system.
As urbanization, industrial growth, and changing weather patterns intensify pressure on water infrastructure, drinking water use in the Netherlands is projected to increase by 100 million cubic meters by 2030. To future-proof its operations, Brabant Water is digitalizing its network, supporting the region’s growing communities and industries.
Brabant Water created a virtual model, or digital twin, of its 29 treatment facilities and nearly 12,000 miles of pipelines. The digital twin receives real-time data from sensors, meters, and pumping stations, giving operators continuous visibility into the network and enabling rapid detection of problems such as leaks or equipment failures. This enhanced insight improves day-to-day service reliability and long-term planning.
Powered by the digital water platform, Xylem Vue, Brabant Water can simulate network performance under various conditions – from sudden demand spikes to operational changes – on a digital replica of its network. The utility can then detect and resolve potential issues before they affect customers, minimizing service disruptions.
Over the next two years, Brabant Water will install 120,000 ultrasonic smart meters, providing both the utility and its customers with greater insight into water use. The meters will help households and industries monitor consumption and use less water. They will also feed live data into the digital twin to detect leaks and optimize the network.
“Managing a network of this size demands more than experience; it demands real-time insight,” said Wouter Huisman, Program Manager, Smart Operations, Brabant Water. “By taking our digital transformation to the next level, we can see across the entire system, anticipate issues before they happen, and make smarter decisions that strengthen the network for the future.”
Research from Xylem and Global Water Intelligence shows that digital water platforms can significantly lower the cost of building resilience to floods and droughts by up to 40%. Worldwide, digital water technologies are transforming utility operations, boosting performance and enabling more efficient resource management. In Valencia, Spain, implementing a digital twin with Xylem Vue helped the city’s water utility cut leaks by 30%, achieve 15% energy savings, and lower maintenance costs by 20%, while increasing customer satisfaction by 60%.
“Brabant Water shows how digital tools can help utilities ensure a reliable water supply even under changing conditions,” said Jaime Barba, General Manager, Xylem Vue. “As Brabant continues to attract new industries and technology hubs, this work demonstrates how data and digital intelligence can help utilities meet rising demand – building smarter, more adaptive systems that serve both community well-being and economic growth.”
