Deltebre, located in the Terres de l'Ebre region, has secured over €1.2 million in European subsidies to modernise and improve its municipal water services. This investment will digitalise both the drinking water network and the sewage system, according to the Deltebre Town Council.
The council obtained €1,044,439.72 from Next Generation EU funds through two Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) calls. Mayor Lluís Soler stated that the project will "improve the service, anticipate incidents, reduce losses, and offer a quicker and more effective response to citizens." He added that Deltebre's transformation includes modernising essential basic services for public well-being.
One key action involves installing 2,422 smart meters with remote reading capabilities. These will provide real-time consumption data, detect anomalies immediately, and optimise the supply network's performance. Combined with 2,630 meters already being progressively replaced by the municipal water service, Deltebre expects to have renewed a total of 5,052 water meters by 2027, moving towards a more digitalised and efficient network.
Enhancing Network Control and Transparency
The project will also divide the network into three distinct zones, incorporating new pressure and flow control systems. These systems will make it easier to detect leaks and improve hydraulic performance. Additionally, the entire integrated water cycle, including both drinking water and sewage, will see improvements.
Planned actions include installing sensors to monitor water quality, sewage monitoring systems, and digital tools to detect leaks, blockages, and potential incidents before they become major problems. A new website and mobile application will also be created to improve information and transparency for residents. This will provide easier access to service data and strengthen the response capacity during droughts or specific incidents.
Funding and Local Investment
The total cost of these actions is €1,266,590.56. This amount is subsidised by €500,000 from the Generalitat de Catalunya's PERTE and €544,439.72 from the State's PERTE. The Deltebre Town Council will contribute €222,150.84 from its own funds to complete the overall investment for both projects.
Separately, the Deltebre Town Council is also sectorising the drinking water network in La Cava, a local neighbourhood, with an investment of €613,295. This project has a €300,000 subsidy from the Catalan Water Agency (ACA). It focuses on replacing PVC pipes, mostly installed in the 1970s, which currently form a single circuit in the middle of the streets. The new configuration will feature two independent networks per street, one on each pavement.
Future Outlook and Efficiency Gains
One notable change in La Cava is the division of the current single drinking water sector into three independent sectors. This measure will optimise the service and substantially improve network maintenance. In total, the Deltebre Town Council is investing €1,879,885.56 to improve the drinking water network, with €1,344,439.72 coming from other administrations.
Mayor Soler emphasised that the ability to secure and manage subsidies is key to addressing the municipality's structural problems. In 2023, the municipality's drinking water network performance was 30%. Thanks to the actions already implemented, this indicator has increased to 50%, with further improvements expected as the new initiatives are rolled out.
