News
– Over the past three years, this European project has developed AI-based digital tools to create a pioneering data management ecosystem for the integral water cycle
– This ecosystem has been built through the collaboration of key stakeholders in water management across Andalusia
The WATERVERSE project has concluded after three years, marking a milestone in revolutionising water resource management on the Western Costa del Sol. This achievement has been made possible through the creation of a water data management ecosystem developed by Cetaqua – Water Technology Centre – and Hidralia, among others. The aim of this platform is to ensure the interoperability, operability, reliability and accessibility of such data, while facilitating its exchange among key actors.
Funded by the European Commission’s Horizon programme, WATERVERSE has brought together the expertise of 17 partners from 10 European countries. Through this collaboration, the project has developed a platform that integrates a comprehensive water data management ecosystem, successfully demonstrated for different applications in six countries (Spain, Cyprus, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom).
The Spanish pilot, led by Hidralia with the technical support of Cetaqua, has focused on developing a shared data space enabling the integration of information from various stakeholders such as water utilities, public administrations and irrigation communities. This integration provides hydrographic confederations with real-time insights into the availability and quality of water resources, thus supporting informed decision-making in the management of the entire water cycle.
According to Javier Haro, Head of Digitalisation at Hidralia, “The data ecosystem developed within the WATERVERSE project allows us to make the most of data collected from diverse sources, enabling everything from improved network performance to data-driven water management, ultimately enhancing the resilience of water systems.”
Collaboration between water utilities and other entities such as provincial councils, municipalities, technology companies and other organisations within the Western Costa del Sol business network has been key to creating a useful, reliable and scalable data ecosystem.
In this regard, regular sessions of a Multistakeholder Forum, bringing together representatives from various types of organisations, have been a cornerstone of the project. According to Sergi Baena, WATERVERSE Project Manager and Researcher at Cetaqua Barcelona, “Innovation only has value when it responds to a real need. In today’s context of water stress, initiatives like WATERVERSE demonstrate how technology, combined with cross-sector collaboration, can transform data into meaningful solutions for society.”
This project, together with others such as MAR2PROTECT, which aims to improve the quality of groundwater, reflects the commitment of Hidralia and Cetaqua to strengthen the water resilience of this Andalusian region. The area faces declining groundwater levels due to aquifer overexploitation and chronic water stress.
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