Smart Water Rollout: Zenner at IFAT Munich 2026

Resilience is becoming the guiding principle of water management: infrastructure must be operated not only in a sustainable manner but also with resilience. From May 4 to 7, 2026, Zenner International GmbH & Co. KG will present solutions for digital water management at IFAT Munich, with a focus on the Smart Water Rollout.

Saarbrücken, April 2026. The demands on cities and utilities are growing: extreme weather events, increasing urbanization, and resource scarcity are intensifying the pressure to make water management sustainable and future-proof. The use of digital solutions and wireless technologies such as LoRaWAN plays a key role in this. They enable comprehensive data collection and form the basis for resilient water infrastructure and the Smart Water rollout. At the same time, political initiatives such as the European Blue Deal or the National Water Strategy set clear guidelines.

At IFAT 2026 in Munich, Zenner will present solutions for the Smart Water Rollout and for building scalable IoT infrastructures — from smart metering to data platforms.

Smart Water Rollout from a Single Source

Zenner offers a comprehensive portfolio of smart metering technology for water, heat, and gas, and is continuously developing it further. The goal for 2026: to drive the smart water rollout across the board. With its ultrasonic residential water meter, Zenner builds on more than 100 years of experience in water meter development. The meter is equipped with the “parallel radio” function and transmits measurement data simultaneously via LoRaWAN and Wireless M-Bus.

As a Smart Water Solution Provider, the company offers solutions ranging from smart metering technology to data platforms to implement the Smart Water Rollout from a single source. This enables the implementation of applications along the entire process chain: from water level monitoring and water body monitoring to ensuring distribution in the supply network and transparent consumption tracking in buildings.

“Smart metering and digital platforms are becoming increasingly important in the water industry. We take a holistic view of digitalization: by ‘Smart Water Rollout,’ we mean not only digitized and automated meter reading but also complementary IoT solutions that enable networks to be operated securely,”

explains René Claussen, Head of the Metering Systems, IoT, and Digital Solutions Division at Zenner.

Scalable IoT Infrastructure with LoRaWAN

Digital meters and wireless technologies such as LoRaWAN form the foundation of the digital infrastructure in water management and smart cities. This wireless technology is characterized by long range and very low energy consumption, making it suitable for widespread use throughout urban areas. Zenner operates one of the largest LoRaWAN networks worldwide, with approximately 11 million devices and network coverage in 15 countries. With Zenner’s LoRaWAN gateways, customers are also able to build their own scalable networks in the Internet of Things.

“LoRaWAN has revolutionized the way energy providers, the housing industry, and smart cities operate. The technology offers reliable, efficient connectivity and is thus the foundation for many smart use cases,”

says Zeljko Petrina, Managing Director at Zenner.

B.One Metering as a Service: A Comprehensive Digital Solution

Zenner has also developed a solution package for water utilities that enables cost-effective remote meter reading: B.One Metering as a Service (MaaS) by Zenner. The advantage: MaaS allows for the implementation of additional smart applications without the need for additional infrastructure investments.

“By integrating additional sensors and devices, MaaS enables the creation of sustainable and resilient water systems and even allows for the integration of flood protection solutions,”

explains Claussen.

Collaboration: Leak Detection in Water Networks

A clear example of increased efficiency is leak detection. For this application, Fast GmbH and Zenner are combining their expertise in a joint solution for the digital monitoring of water networks. This involves integrating acoustic loggers from Fast into Zenner’s B.One Element Suite IoT platform. The sensors detect characteristic noises in the pipeline network and transmit the data via LoRaWAN. The solution helps utilities and municipal utilities reduce water loss and optimize maintenance processes.

Smart Resilience: The New B.One Solution Ecosystem

The Minol-Zenner Group’s new B.One solution ecosystem is also a key focus of the trade show presentation. Under the guiding principle “Adapt yourself,” it brings together all of the group’s smart meters and sensors that transmit data digitally. The B.One umbrella also encompasses the associated applications. Together, they form a holistic ecosystem. The goal is to support customers in the energy and housing sectors, industry, and local governments in responding flexibly to changes and making their processes future-proof.

Zenner is one of the leading providers of digital solutions based on LoRaWAN. The company has successfully implemented more than 450 projects in collaboration with municipal utilities, energy suppliers, local governments, and industry.

Visit the Zenner International GmbH & Co. KG team at IFAT Munich 2026 in Hall C1, Booth 304.