From Fragmented Systems to Transparent Governance: Blockchain-Enabled Water Management with IoT Integration

Aging urban water distribution networks face increasing pressure from growing demand and infrastructure deterioration, while the integration of IoT monitoring systems highlight the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance system reliability and ensure data security. At the same time, the fragmented nature of water governance creates further barriers to coordinated, transparent, and efficient water management. Our work aims to address these challenges by proposing a holistic architecture for a customized private permissioned blockchain network specifically designed for IoT-enabled water meters. This approach mitigates data breaches, ensures secure data sharing among IoT devices, and facilitates precise water usage measurements and real-time leak detection.To address these water management challenges, we developed an automated framework for the deployment, management, and updating of Hyperledger Fabric blockchains networks, specifically tailored for public utility services. The network leverages chaincodes to secure IoT data storage and analysis, effectively preventing unauthorized access and malicious actions. Furthermore, Ricardian Contracts are employed to ensure that decision-making processes align with the legal agreements between consumers and service providers, guaranteeing automatic regulatory compliance.The project’s architecture supports hierarchical data access, ensuring confidentiality and privacy across water management agencies, regulatory agencies, and data owners. A proof of concept has been successfully implemented across two Greek municipalities, involving five organizations and over 150 water meters.