Following on previous phases of technological and industrial revolutions in human history, a new phase is widely predicted by many, popularly associated with the concept of "the 4th Industrial Revolution".  A key aspect in here is the "Internet of Things (IoT)".

With IoT is understood a "system of computing, digital machines, sensors, objects and also animals and people, marked by unique identifiers, are interrelated through the continuous exchange of huge volumes of data over a network. 

As IoT advances within the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, fed by smart sensors and high-speed communication channels, all kinds of physical items go "on-line", start communicating and become "intelligent".  

IoT offers a myriad of means for transforming goods and services around the world. This holds very true of Water, which is a ubiquitous resource servicing an endless row of functions of the highest importance to people, and to society.

While IoT brings enormous opportunities for enhanced functionality in water management, the realisation of benefits hinges on continued progress, e.g. in regard to data management, authentication (who is who), authorisation (who is entitled to do what), security, privacy, and so forth. There must also be the accurate deployment of IoT on terms that enable focus in effort on resolving real, outstanding issues.

In the area of water specifically, IoT holds out promises for radical change in areas such as the following:

• Increased interoperability and extendibility of networks and services,
• IoT infrastructure based on open source technologies in regard to communication and controlling implementation
• Water Quality Testing and Analysis
• Smart Irrigation 
• Reduced costs through systems optimisation covering, e.g. reduced low energy consumption using a Low Power Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)
• Wireless Water Level Monitoring
• Smart metering, remote sensing, enhanced security
  Smart Water Management and Waste Water Management
• Open-source library for Big Data infrastructure 
• Big-data analytics as a basis for improved data-driven decision making 
• Water Conservation
• Digital fabrication machineries (3D printing and laser cutting technologies)

Success in IoT is not just about new technology. On the contrary, capacity building through competence development and training is key.  Comprehensive training, spanning IoT introduction, overview applications and significance, sensors, IoT communication and security. Training needs further apply in regard to:

• Raising the awareness of the people of the community
• Empowering HR, Organizations and Government
• Fitting for different stages and skill profiles 
• Building abilities of immediate needs, as well as prepare a skill set that can be developed for continued competence accumulation for the medium and long term