Population growth, urbanization and socioeconomic development are increasing water demand. As a result, water scarcity is a growing problem for communities around the globe. According to a recent report by Nature Communications, the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.693–2.373 billion people in 2050. Nearly half of the world’s large cities are also projected to be located in water-scarce regions by 2050.

Current Urban Water Scarcity


Source: Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions, Nature Communications

1. Spatial patterns of large cities in water-scarce areas (cities with population above 10 million in 2016 were labeled).
2. Water-scarce urban population at the global scale.
3. Water-scarce urban population at the national scale (10 countries with the largest values were listed). Please refer to Supplementary Data for urban water scarcity in each catchment.

With scarcity and water loss issues, aging infrastructure and a shift toward digitalization, water utilities and municipalities are challenged in managing their water distribution networks. Fortunately, technology is in a place today to support utilities in monitoring and responding to potential threats to their supply in real time, combating non-revenue water loss and protecting their communities.

Itron’s goal is to help our customers make the most of this precious resource by minimizing non-revenue water, engaging consumers and providing actionable insights that improve operations and allow for continued delivery of clean, reliable and safe water service. Itron delivers a comprehensive, outcomes-oriented approach to help utilities achieve their most pressing business goals. We pair the right metering and sensing technology with secure, reliable networks and software/analytics that drive efficiencies, predict problems, identify unauthorized consumption, and prioritize leaks in terms of severity so they can be proactively fixed. We deploy our solutions in a variety of ways to suit different needs— everything from utility-owned and operated infrastructure to our turnkey world-class managed services. We have deep industry expertise to help solve the challenges today, and those in the future. From intelligent networks and smart devices to analytics and services, we help customers manage and connect every drop!

Learn more about Itron’s water solutions and how to implement best practices to quantify the value of uncovering apparent losses during our virtual Itron Inspire on Oct. 4-6. Attendees can attend sessions on a range of topics spanning across four themed tracks: Applications, Outcomes and Services; Multi-purpose Network Solutions; Mobile and Measurement Solutions; and Data Management. Specifically, for those interested in water management, join our sessions focusing on “Apparent Loss Analysis Best Practices & Lessons Learned” and “What You Wish You Had Known for Your Water AMI Project”. On Oct. 4 and 5 at 12 p.m. PT, the Itron team will present a demo followed by a roundtable discussion. The first session will focus on distribution leak detection and the second on operational visibility.

Want to know more about #ItronInspire21? Visit itron.com/inspire to learn about our virtual content, or watch this video as an introduction to our one-of-a-kind event. Register for $99 and secure your virtual seat today.