Smart irrigation: How digital tools help cities and growers save water

As water scarcity intensifies, cities and farmers are rethinking one of the world’s most water-intensive practices: irrigation. Irrigation alone accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, according to the World Bank. Yet many systems still rely on rigid schedules or manual controls – leading to unnecessary water use, higher costs, and inefficient outcomes.

A more sustainable approach is gaining traction. With the rise of digital irrigation tools, real-time data is enabling smarter, more responsive water management – ensuring crops, parks, and green spaces are watered only when and where it’s needed.

Begoña Tarrazona, Irrigation Specialist at Xylem, explains how integrated digital platforms are helping cities and farms cut waste, improve resilience and build a more sustainable water future.

What are the biggest limitations of traditional irrigation systems today?

Many conventional systems operate on fixed schedules or manual controls, delivering water whether it's needed or not. This often leads to over-irrigation, runoff, and wasted resources – especially in large areas like parks or farms. In some regions, irrigation infrastructure is outdated or doesn’t exist at all, making efficient water use nearly impossible.

What does smart irrigation look like in practice?

Smart irrigation is about adapting to what’s happening in the field, not following a fixed schedule. It means using sensors and tools that track soil moisture, weather patterns, and plant health, and then applying that information to make better decisions.

Whether it’s a farmer skipping a watering cycle after rain or a city managing irrigation across dozens of parks, the goal is the same: deliver the right amount of water only when and where it’s needed.

What role does data integration play in smarter irrigation?

Data integration is the engine behind smart irrigation. It brings together information from many sources – like soil sensors, weather forecasts, satellite imagery, and flow meters – into a single view. That allows operators to make faster, more accurate decisions. Instead of reacting to problems after they happen, they can anticipate needs, detect anomalies, and fine-tune irrigation schedules in real time. Without integrated data, even the most advanced sensors and devices operate in isolation and miss the bigger picture.

How does Xylem Vue bring these data sources together?

Xylem Vue offers two smart irrigation platforms. Agrotwin helps farmers integrate and optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pumping across their fields. Unified Network Management does the same for cities managing public park irrigation systems.

Both platforms collect, standardize, and analyze data across the entire irrigation network, giving users a central dashboard to monitor performance, set alerts, and automate decisions. The result is better water efficiency, energy savings, early leak detection, and longer system lifespan.

Can you share an example of smart irrigation in action?

In Al Khor, Qatar, we helped the city implement smart irrigation across two public parks. The goal was to optimize water use in landscaped areas with a centralized control system that could monitor all assets and automate irrigation planning based on environmental conditions like the weather.

The results were significant: water use dropped by up to 27%, hydraulic efficiency improved by 10%, and energy consumption for pumping was reduced by as much as 70%.

The project earned a national Green Award and highlighted the environmental and operational benefits of a data-driven approach.

Beyond water savings, what other benefits are there from smart irrigation?

First, there are the direct savings – less water used, lower energy bills, and reduced use of fertilizers. It also helps extend the life of the infrastructure by detecting problems like leaks or pressure changes early, before they turn into major repairs. On top of that, it supports environmental goals by cutting carbon emissions and reducing nitrate runoff into groundwater.

What are the biggest challenges to broader adoption of smart irrigation?

Adoption isn’t just about having the right technology – it also depends on training, support, and resources. Many growers and municipalities see the potential, but they may not have the expertise or funding to implement smart irrigation on their own. To scale this effectively, we need stronger policy support, more education, and programs that make the transition easier for those on the ground.

Learn more about the solutions available to cities and growers looking to improve irrigation efficiency.