The Tagus Water Authority (CHT) has enhanced its Automatic Hydrological Information System (SAIH) through new technological and operational upgrades delivered under its contract with the TAJO 2024 consortium, led by Idrica and Adasa Sistemas.
The Tagus basin, covering more than 55,000 km² and home to nearly eight million people in Spain, is one of Europe’s most complex river catchments. Its monitoring network includes 222 SAIH stations, 30 water quality stations (SAICA), 12 river gauging stations (ROEA), and over 100 piezometers (SAIHTajo). The system generates a vast volume of data that requires advanced analytics to transform into actionable insights for water security and resilience.
Advancing water security and compliance
The latest upgrades to SAIH are designed to strengthen hydrological forecasting, anticipate pollution episodes, and improve responses to climate-driven risks such as floods and droughts. They also support monitoring and compliance with the European Union’s Water Framework Directive.
“The aim of the project is to guarantee water and hydraulic security for all of the basin’s users, maintaining and improving critical infrastructure to facilitate real-time decision-making,” said Sergio Morant, Flood Risk Specialist at Xylem Vue, the digital platform developed by Idrica and Xylem.
Maintenance and digital operations
The programme has two core strands. The first covers the preventive and corrective maintenance of hydrological infrastructure, including weather stations, river and dam level sensors, and IT systems. The second, led by Idrica, focuses on hydrological operations such as continuous network monitoring, advanced data analysis, and decision support for extraordinary events.
The upgrades proved their value in early 2025 when four major storms highlighted the importance of advanced monitoring and predictive capabilities in reducing flood risks and ensuring effective dam management.
Digital backbone for future resilience
The project consolidates SAIH as a critical infrastructure for water security in central Spain and reinforces the Tagus basin as a benchmark for smart water management. Through digitalisation and collaboration, CHT and its partners are positioning the system to respond to increasing climate and regulatory pressures.
