Saturday, 30th September 2023
Calvià is at the forefront of drinking water management with a Hidrobal plan awarded by the Ministry of Ecological Transition with 5.6 million euros
Meters will be digitised, flood alarms will be set and water leaks will be controlled through digital simulations
Calvià will benefit from a 5.6 million-euro aid to improve the drinking water management system granted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) to Hidrobal. This has been possible thanks to the e-AIGO project of Hidrobal, the concessionaire company that manages the drinking water supply in the municipality. The project has been ranked eleventh out of the 30 selected by the Ministry at the national level.
In total, the amount of 7.502.821,42 euros will be received in financing, coming from the Next Generation funds within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), thus benefiting Calvià and 11 municipalities in the Pla de Mallorca (Algaida, Ariany, Costitx, Lloret de Vistalegre, Llubí, Maria de la Salut, Montuïri, Porreres, Santa Eugènia, Sineu and Vilafranca de Bonany). Specifically, the e-AIGO project foresees 14 actions with a budget of 11.8 million euros, of which 5.6 envisage actions in Calvià (51.567 inhabitants) and 6.2 in the municipalities of the Pla de Mallorca municipal association (32.446 inhabitants).
Andrés Barceló - manager of the municipal public company Calvià 2000 - has valued the help that digital control of the drinking water supply will provide and that "places Calvià at the forefront of the Balearic Islands in terms of water supply management." Barceló wanted to recognise the value of the Hidrobal project, "in accordance with the policies that we promote from Calvià 2000 and the Town Hall to consolidate Calvià as a leading brand inside and outside the Balearic Islands, a reference municipality in responsible management that demonstrates our commitment to uniting the well-being of residents with the quality of the tourist offer and the protection and conservation of the environment. "We will be able to digitise meters, as well as control and minimise water leaks."
The initiative pivots on the creation of a digital platform, with advanced technology developed by the Agbar Group, to which Hidrobal belongs, which allows optimising the management of the comprehensive water cycle and holistically integrates all internal and external variables, a fact that facilitates the ability to react to extreme episodes such as torrential rains. This will prevent, for example, collapse situations and discharges into the environment in sanitation systems when there is very intense rainfall. The implementation of the e-AIGO digital platform foresees the sending of warnings and alerts in possible flood scenarios.
The other axis of the proposal consists of the adaptation and improvement of the collection, supply, sanitation and purification infrastructures through the deployment of sensors, remote control systems, the digitalisation of collections and the creation of a digital twin - a virtual model for performing tests—of the purification plant. The project also includes the development of master plans, energy optimisation plans and the installation of photovoltaic panels.
Deficiencies will be improved both in the coastal and inland rural areas, with an increase in knowledge of water collections, an increase in efficiency in the storage and distribution network, and facilitating the preservation of water resources by recharging aquifers with regenerated water, an alternative resource that increases water security and resilience to droughts. The infiltration of regenerated water, as well as the installation of nitrate and conductivity sensors, will guarantee the sufficient supply of water, as required by a sustainable, balanced, equitable and rational use of this resource.
Energy savings is another key objective in this project. The average annual consumption for urban water cycle services is 10.3 million kWh/year and a reduction of 1.3 million kWh/year is planned, that is, a saving of 12.7%.