The cross-border H2O SMARTNET project continued its operational activities with the third meeting of the project partners, held on Monday, 21 April, in the Municipality of Duino Aurisina. The meeting focused on coordinating ongoing activities and reviewing the progress of the pilot actions implemented in Slovenia and Italy.
As part of the H2O SMARTNET project, Kraški vodovod d.d. / Acquedotto del Carso S.p.A. is continuing to modernise the water supply network under its management, pursuing two key objectives: reducing network losses to prevent both the waste of water resources and economic damage, and developing a resilient system capable of responding rapidly and accurately to natural disasters such as droughts and wildfires, which are becoming increasingly likely due to the changing climate, with the support of new technologies.
The H2O SMARTNET project addresses a common challenge in the cross-border area: reducing drinking water losses, modernising outdated infrastructure and improving the resilience of water supply networks to the effects of climate change. The project is based on advanced ICT solutions, including flow sensors, smart meters, fibre-optic technology and digital platforms for real-time data analysis.
The meeting was attended by the project partners: Vodovodi in kanalizacija Nova Gorica d.d. as the Lead Partner, Acquedotto Poiana S.p.A., Kraški vodovod d.d. / Acquedotto del Carso S.p.A., and the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering.
The meeting held on 21 April provided an opportunity to review the activities already launched and those currently under way in the different project areas.
Project partners – ongoing activities
| Partner | Ongoing activities |
|---|---|
| LP – Vodovodi in kanalizacija Nova Gorica d.d. | Is developing an online digital system for monitoring the water supply network, which will enable better oversight of system operations and a faster response in the event of anomalies. |
| PP1 – Acquedotto Poiana S.p.A. | Is currently focused on installing fibre-optic infrastructure, which is essential for rapid data transmission and the operation of advanced monitoring systems. |
| PP2 – Kraški vodovod d.d. / Acquedotto del Carso S.p.A. | Is developing smart solutions for monitoring water flow and detecting leaks, which will make water network management more efficient and reliable. |
| PP3 – University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering | Is preparing technical analyses and digital support tools to help interpret the collected data and guide more effective operational decisions. |
In addition to technological solutions, the H2O SMARTNET project places particular emphasis on the active involvement of citizens. Digital tools will enable users to monitor water consumption more effectively and report anomalies more promptly.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme. It has a duration of 24 months and a total value of EUR 1,061,707.68, of which EUR 849,366.14 is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
The partners’ meeting reaffirmed the importance of cross-border cooperation in the sustainable management of water resources and marked another step towards smarter, more efficient and modern water supply networks.
