
Paris Advances Water Transparency with LoRaWAN Smart Meters
France’s capital modernizes its water infrastructure with digital metering and real-time insights.
🌍 Project Overview
In a progressive step toward digital utility transformation, the water utility of Paris has successfully deployed 16,000 ultrasonic smart water meters powered by LoRaWAN communication technology. This large-scale rollout enhances transparency, optimizes water consumption, and supports the city’s sustainability goals.
The project is part of a broader initiative in France to digitalize water networks using low-power wide-area (LPWAN) solutions like LoRaWAN and Sigfox, enabling scalable and cost-effective remote meter management.
🛠️ Technical Scope
The solution implemented in Paris includes:
High-precision ultrasonic smart water meters
LoRaWAN communication modules, enabling secure and long-range data transmission
Remote meter reading at daily intervals
Real-time leak and tamper alerts
Long battery life (8+ years) for low maintenance
Rugged IP68 design, suited for challenging urban and basement environments
These meters integrate with a cloud-based platform for central monitoring and analytics, allowing utility staff and customers to gain full visibility into water usage trends.
💡 Challenges Addressed
Inefficient manual meter reading and delayed billing
Unnoticed leaks leading to high non-revenue water (NRW)
Growing pressure to align with environmental regulations
Limited user awareness of daily water consumption
🌟 Benefits Delivered
✅ Enhanced data transparency for customers and operators
✅ Improved operational efficiency with fewer field visits
✅ Faster leak detection, minimizing water loss
✅ Accurate billing through precise digital readings
✅ Strong foundation for smart city integration
“Thanks to LoRaWAN smart meters, Paris is entering a new era of water governance—smarter, faster, and more transparent.”
— Head of Metering Projects, Paris Water Utility
🔎 Looking Ahead
The successful deployment of 16,000 meters is a precursor to wider adoption across Paris and other French cities. Future phases aim to connect tens of thousands more smart meters, offering residents full access to their water usage data and empowering more sustainable behavior.