Aguas de Alicante explored a digital service that gives households access to their water consumption data. One of the most useful findings was surprisingly simple: most participants did not know that the existing app was available. Citizens also saw the service in a different way from the company. They did not see it mainly as a way of giving more data. They saw it as a way for Aguas de Alicante to return information it already has in a useful and understandable form.

The workshops produced several clear ideas for the service. Participants liked a simple traffic-light system and wanted to see water use translated into euros, not only litres. They also asked for information over different periods and for more accessible ways of using the service. These discussions helped turn a general idea about “water data” into much more concrete suggestions for the design of the service.