Prepaid Digital Water Meters and the Challenges of Sustainable Innovation

Abstract: Water scarcity is an increasing problem all over the world. In order to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030, safe and affordable access to drinking water is a key target that needs to be achieved according to SDG6. In order to secure more drinking water for the future, sustainable innovative water management strategies that aim better supply and demand management are needed. Digital water meter is a smart technology that is used as a demand management tool for saving water quantities, improving the water service provider efficiency and the social equity. The goal of this project is to see how digital prepaid water meters interpret and implement the three pillars of urban sustainable development (economic, environment and social equity) and if this implementation influences the local infrastructure management policies and politics. Next to the literature, a case study was taken about the digital prepaid water meters (PWMs) in Palestine. The study was based on desk-based studies, interviews and online events. The analysis of the results was done based on five different categories (Policies and Regulations, Economic, Consumption, Social Equity and finally Politics). The findings showed that implying such technology directly affects and changes the current policies and regulations. It helps the water service providers to achieve a financial stability. The water consumption decreases and it stops the wasteful water practices. The smartness of the system helped in taking poor and marginalized people into consideration while applying such technology. Internal and external politics have a major role to play in order to benefit from PWMs.