Spanish utilities enhancing flood resilience with early warning systems

More than 90% of global disasters are linked to water, and their impacts are growing. In 2024, floods, storms and droughts caused over $550 billion in economic losses globally, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Flooding, the most frequent weather-related disaster, continues to intensify – placing increasing pressure on communities and infrastructure.

To strengthen resilience, municipalities, utilities and businesses are rethinking how they prepare for and respond to these events. Advances in digital technology are opening new paths forward – particularly through early warning systems (EWS) that can forecast floods and automatically trigger protective measures to help safeguard people and critical assets.

“Disaster preparation and response must be carried out within strict timeframes to enable crucial decisions to be made,” says Sergio Morant, Flood Risk Specialist at Xylem Vue.

“In these situations, early warning systems powered by advanced technologies become invaluable allies, operating with maximum precision and efficiency, improving predictive capacity, and ensuring effective decision-making, protocol activation and automated responses.”

The role of data in early warning systems

Cities are getting ahead of flood management, and a major contributor is early warning systems. Powered by a network of sensors and technologies, these systems track weather and water conditions in real time, helping communities anticipate risks and respond faster.

• In Spain, the HARMONIE model uses radar and short-term forecasting algorithms called nowcasting to predict extreme weather events early. These advanced tools extend forecast accuracy from just 2 hours to as far as 15 days – giving decision-makers critical lead time to prepare for river and urban flooding.
  
  
• Hydrological and hydraulic models further strengthen flood preparedness. Hydrological models calculate how rainfall becomes runoff, while hydraulic models simulate how that water moves through riverbeds and wastewater networks. By combining these simulations with digital terrain models operators can identify flood-prone areas and assess potential outcomes under different conditions.

The real power of early warning systems lies in action. When thresholds like rainfall intensity or river levels are reached, the system can automatically trigger protective protocols – closing roads, warning residents, initiating evacuations and safeguarding vital infrastructure.

Early warning systems powered by Xylem Vue

Xylem Vue, an integrated software and analytics platform, plays a key role in early warning systems for communities around the globe. The platform, which integrates data from hydrometeorological sensors and hydrological and hydraulic models of river and urban areas, enables simulation of reservoir basin and drainage network impacts during heavy rainfall events. The data, in turn, can be used to activate warnings and alarms in real time.

In Spain, forward-thinking municipal and water managers such as the Ebro River Basin Authority and the utility Aguas de Calpe have already deployed Xylem Vue to take flood preparedness to the next level and strengthen the resilience of their communities.

Flood resilience in action: Ebro River Basin Authority

Spanning one-fifth of Spain’s landmass, the Ebro River Basin plays a critical role in powering the country’s agriculture, industry and energy sectors. To strengthen flood resilience, the Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE) harnessed Xylem Vue’s Early Warning System (EWS) application to create VIGILAEbro, an intelligent flood prediction and response platform.

VIGILAEbro integrates real-time hydrometeorological prediction models with advanced geostatistics and machine learning to improve data quality over time.

By leveraging early risk assessment methods like Areas at Risk of Significant Flooding (ARPSis), the system can quickly identify vulnerable areas based on both current and forecasted weather conditions. This analysis enables faster, smarter decisions – especially when managing dams to reduce downstream damage.

But the platform doesn't just stop at prediction. VIGILAEbro delivers real-time alerts to mobile devices and websites, warning citizens about at-risk infrastructure. With Xylem Vue, CHE is not only responding to floods more effectively; it’s getting ahead of them. Read more.

Flood resilience in action: Aguas de Calpe network

Nestled on Spain’s southeastern coast, the town of Calpe is known for its dramatic landscape – and its vulnerability to flooding. A combination of severe weather, rugged terrain, and rapid urban development has made flood management a priority for this popular tourist destination.

To improve its resilience, Aguas de Calpe is leveraging Xylem Vue’s integrated software and analytics platform to optimize its wastewater network.

Using the Real-Time What-Ifs Scenarios application, the utility built a digital twin of their wastewater network – enabling predictive modeling of flood events, identification of high-risk areas, and insight into how flood levels evolve over time.

The platform also helps simulate rainfall scenarios, detect potential overflows and support operational decisions before, during and after extreme weather events.

In just one year, the utility identified 26 early urban flood warnings – transforming how the city prepares for and responds to storms.

“Investing in early warning systems is essential, especially in regions with a history of flooding,” says Morant. “The safety and protection benefits far outweigh implementation costs, making them key tools for modern flood risk management.” Read more.

Building a more water-secure world starts with foresight, data, and action. Learn more about how Xylem Vue is enhancing flood resilience through predictive insights and smarter infrastructure.