Gökhan, sustainability is a broad topic so why focus on water specifically?

Water is an essential yet often neglected part of the sustainability equation. It’s invisible in many ways until there's a problem like a leak or shortage. Unlike energy, which has seen rapid innovation and investment in real estate and hospitality, water is still flying under the radar. But water use is deeply connected to energy and emissions. Heating, pumping, and treating water all require energy, and that means CO₂ emissions. So, optimizing water usage is not just about saving water but also about reducing the energy footprint and emissions of a building.

What challenges do you see when it comes to water management in real estate?

One of the biggest issues is the lack of real-time visibility. Many buildings still rely on manual meter readings, sometimes only monthly or even quarterly. That means leaks or abnormal consumption can go unnoticed for weeks, wasting thousands of liters of water and quietly driving up costs. The problem isn’t only technical, but it’s also cultural. Water often doesn’t feel like a priority until something goes wrong. Part of our mission at Smartvatten is to help shift that mindset and make water management a proactive part of sustainability efforts.

How does Smartvatten help address these challenges?

We offer a digital water management solution that enables real-time monitoring, instant leak detection, and actionable data-driven insights. This empowers property owners and facility managers to respond quickly and effectively. Our goal is to make water usage visible and measurable to transform into a resource that can be managed as proactively as electricity or heating. With the right data at your fingertips, you can make smarter decisions, enhance ESG performance, and achieve meaningful savings in both water and money.

Do you have an example of a best practice or success story?

Absolutely! One of our clients, a major European property portfolio, detected multiple bigger and smaller leaks across their buildings within the first months of using our solution. That translated into significant cost savings and a measurable reduction in their environmental impact. These are quick wins that not only improve sustainability performance but also enhance tenant satisfaction and risk management.