Smartvatten’s Bold Move Signals Europe’s Digital Water Shift

Smartvatten’s deal shows why Europe’s water utilities are going digital

22 Dec 2025

Europe’s water utilities have rarely been glamorous. Pipes are buried, leaks ignored and bills sent once a year. That is changing. As droughts grow more frequent and infrastructure ages, knowing where water goes, and where it is lost, has become urgent.

A signal of this shift came in September 2025, when Smartvatten, a Swedish water-analytics firm, bought LeakLook, a Finnish specialist in sub-metering and internet-connected monitoring. The deal folded LeakLook’s staff into Smartvatten and bolstered its research into sensor technology and data analysis. The combined platform now tracks water use in more than 40,000 properties across over 30 countries, one of the largest such networks in Europe.

The attraction is not novelty but reassurance. Utilities and large property owners increasingly want real-time data on flows within buildings and local networks. Early detection of leaks saves water and money. Reliable records help with regulators and customers alike, as scrutiny of water use tightens. Digital tools that once looked like add-ons are becoming basic infrastructure.

The market remains fragmented, and few large acquisitions have been announced. Yet many expect more consolidation. Utilities prefer platforms that scale easily and combine metering, analytics and reporting, rather than juggling separate systems. Merging complementary technologies promises faster modernisation and less complexity.

Metering firms are also rebranding their wares. Accuracy for billing still matters, but it is no longer the main selling point. Digital meters now offer daily or near-real-time insight into consumption, allowing problems to be spotted sooner and explained more clearly to users. Data, not hardware, is becoming the core asset.

This fits with broader European aims. Policymakers have pushed for greater efficiency, better measurement and digitalisation across water systems, even without a single defining regulation. Climate uncertainty adds pressure. Utilities are expected to document use more carefully and show they are in control.

None of this is easy. Digital systems cost money and can struggle when grafted onto decades-old networks. Better data will not mend every pipe. But it is widely seen as the starting point for smarter choices.

Deals like Smartvatten’s suggest where the industry is heading. Digital water is no longer just about trimming losses. It is about resilience, credibility, and preparing for a future in which every drop is counted.