Schneider Electric Catalyzes Smart Water Action at Climate Week

Schneider Electric saw a sharp disconnect between awareness of escalating U.S. water risks and organizations' readiness to act. The company needed benchmark data showing how business and government leaders prioritized water resilience, what barriers (budget, operations, cybersecurity) blocked execution, and which investment levers would accelerate adoption of smart water infrastructure. The stakes were high: ~20% of treated water (7 billion gallons/day) is lost to leaks, 260,000 water main breaks cost billions annually, and limited execution on water strategies threatens economic growth and urban resilience.

NewtonX designed and fielded a B2B executive survey in August 2025 that connected Schneider Electric with 201 U.S. leaders (159 senior business executives at 1,000+ employee enterprises and 42 city/state officials). NewtonX delivered verified, sector-targeted quantitative benchmarks and evidence-backed analysis to uncover the execution gap, barriers (including cybersecurity concerns), and priority levers for smart water adoption, packaged for use at Climate Week.

The research quantified the problem and created a timely thought‑leadership platform: 60% of leaders said water risks will outpace other infrastructure threats, two‑thirds said near‑term upgrades are critical, yet only 1 in 10 fully implement their water strategy; 25% cited cybersecurity as a barrier. The study debuted at Climate Week 2025 and generated coverage in industry outlets (WaterWorld, WaterTech Online, Stormwater, Sustainability Magazine), becoming a data‑driven reference for policymakers and industry planners. Schneider Electric used the findings to inform modernization roadmaps, prioritize investments (real‑time data, digital twins, cybersecurity), and position itself as a trusted advisor on national water resilience.