Engineering multinational firm Royal HaskoningDHV Southern Africa leading markets and Mozambique director Sheilla de Carvalho has been appointed to the International Water Association (IWA) Digital Water Programme steering committee for 2022 to 2024.

The goal of the IWA Digital Water Programme is to make it easier for the water industry to adopt and use digital technology in water services. It provides water utilities with information about how to use digital methods to improve their capacity and performance.

“Smart water management is a critical driver for social and economic security and resilience. This makes it even more imperative to ensure the quality and reliability of the service while simultaneously investing in technologies, human resources, and initiatives to meet future demands,” says De Carvalho.

The Steering Committee represents 13 countries and serves as a platform where industry representatives can share their experiences in digital water transformation and get new ideas for how to use digital solutions that build on these experiences.

“Every region, utility and management authority has a different level of maturity on the path to a digital water future, but we can all learn from one another. It begins with sharing data, knowledge and experiences to understand what is possible, followed by adopting a progressive, systematic approach to digital transformation,” she says.

The goal of the Digital Water Programme is to act as a catalyst for innovation, knowledge and best practices in the water industry around digitalisation. With a focus on resilience and preparedness for any future challenge, it highlights successful digital water initiatives as well as the business side of digital transformation to help guide water utilities.

“We can either resist the rise of digital solutions and struggle to adapt to water challenges and global changes, or fully embrace the digital revolution and collaborate with innovators to unlock a new era of water abundance and build a stronger and more economically viable foundation for the future,” emphasises De Carvalho.