The new data platform makes water needs and available resources centrally visible for the first time. It links local sensors, groundwater levels, precipitation data, consumption figures, and forecasts. This integrated view makes water surpluses and bottlenecks transparently visible.

The platform is an important building block for the future viability of the region and helps municipalities to develop secure and sustainable water supply strategies, especially during dry periods.

Many municipalities face the challenge that water enters the sewage system in places where it should not be. Infiltration water — such as groundwater, spring water, or surface water — enters through leaking pipes and leads to dilution of the wastewater. The consequences are significant: sewage treatment plants work less efficiently, capacities are unnecessarily stressed, the biological treatment performance decreases, and operating costs rise. In addition, groundwater lowering and watercourse pollution from overflows can occur.

To address this problem, systematic infiltration water analyses are carried out in all 27 municipalities of the Hof district. Both problem areas and entry points are recorded and assessed. All results feed into a central database in which municipalities can learn from each other and develop joint solutions.

The structured approach makes it possible to identify cost-saving measures and implement them uniformly. These synergies allow renovation processes to be made more efficient. At the same time, a standard template is developed that also includes guidance on funding opportunities. This gives municipalities a solid basis for stabilising their wastewater systems in the long term and better managing climate challenges.

To better understand the water balance in forest and agricultural areas, the installation of a digital sensor network is being prepared to continuously measure soil moisture, temperature, conductivity, and pH values. These data are supplemented by drone and satellite images.

By integrating into the district's LoRaWAN network, a precise picture of soil behaviour is created. This knowledge is crucial for sustainable water supply, plant development, and climate adaptation.

The digital platform bundles knowledge on sponge measures in a central location. It provides best-practice examples, solution approaches, and data from municipal analyses in a clear format. The basis is the "Digital Lotse Wasser" platform, which is being further developed for the Hof district.

After testing in pilot municipalities, it will be integrated into the district's urban data platform. All content is available open source so that municipalities can work transparently, collaboratively, and in a future-oriented manner.