Published in Le Monde of June 28, 2023

At a time when water management is becoming a key issue for local authorities, optimizing it through the use of digital data is gradually becoming essential. Data contributes to a better understanding and more efficient management of this vital and strategic resource.

Explanations from Patrice Rilly, Managing Director of Paratronic.

As the effects of climate change accelerate, water management has become a central element of public policy for adaptation and resilience. On the one hand, water needs to be preserved so that it does not run out during droughts. On the other, we sometimes have to cope with a surplus during heavy rainfall, which can lead to flooding. In the face of these hazards, digital technology, and more specifically the use of data, offers relevant solutions.

Thanks to data, water management is becoming more responsive and efficient. This is why local authorities and their partners are increasingly using digital tools that collect or process data. On drinking water networks, for example, the challenge is to reduce leakage using sensors, particularly acoustic ones. In France, nearly one liter of water in five is still "lost" due to leaks in water distribution networks. In terms of resource availability, data can be used to monitor groundwater levels using submerged probes. As for watercourses, sensors can measure their flow and level, to anticipate the risk of overflow.

"There's no alternative. To make better decisions and better forecasts, we need to collect and process data", says Patrice Rilly, CEO of Paratronic, a company specializing in measurement and monitoring systems for both the small and large water cycles.

Digitizing water management

Bpifrance is involved in this data-driven evolution of water management. Through the "Accélérateur EAU" program, it supports small and medium-sized businesses in the sector in their digitalization. "I took part in the 1st gas pedal in 2020, which enabled me to gain skills after taking over the company, and to build up a network of contacts," continues Patrice Rilly.

Bpifrance also supports these companies as part of La French Fab, a community that aims to unite French manufacturers and give French industry visibility and pride abroad. "We are a member of the La French Fab community, because we manufacture all our products in France, including the electronic boards for the sensors, in our workshop near Lyon," Patrice Rilly points out.

Finally, Bpifrance offers financing solutions such as innovation loans. Paratronic received a loan of this type to develop a new tool. This is an "intelligent" gateway that routes data between sensors and water management systems. "The idea was to develop a highly modular tool, adaptable to different use cases, based on modules that could be assembled according to need. The loan helped us to carry out the R&D work," explains Patrice Rilly.

According to the manager, data-driven water management is the future of the sector. "There is a growing awareness on the part of local authorities that water management is now a crucial issue, but there are also new obligations linked to the Gemapi (management of aquatic environments and flood prevention). The use of data in water management should therefore continue to intensify in France," concludes Patrice Rilly.