Torrelavit: How a village of 60 springs has become the digital brain of Alt Penedès

1. The digital pulse of a thousand-year-old treasure

Torrelavit is water. Its history says it and the 60 natural springs that beat under its soil confirm it. But in the 21st century, and especially in the context of the drought that Catalonia is experiencing, having water is not enough: you need to know how to manage it with surgical precision. For too long, “estimated readings” and impossible access to meters inside closed homes have been an obstacle to efficiency. Today, we are connecting the pulse of the municipality to a smart network to ensure that not a single drop of our most precious resource is lost along the way.

2. Goodbye to wear and tear: the Swiss precision of ultrasound

Imagine a precision clock, but designed to measure the passage of water without ever wearing out. This is the leap we are taking by replacing old mechanical meters with static ultrasonic technology (DN15). Unlike systems of the past, these devices have no moving parts. This eliminates friction and ensures that the metrological accuracy (Class 2, R250) remains intact throughout its useful life.

For residents of towns like La Pineda or Terrassola , this means an absolutely fair bill: the system detects even a trickle of water of just 2 liters per hour. As the project description itself says, the objective is clear:

“Achieving more efficient, precise and sustainable administration of water resources.”

3. NB- IoT : The Internet of Things that goes where Wi -Fi can’t

The real revolution is connectivity. We are deploying a network of 666 subscriber meters and 21 flow meters connected using NB- IoT ( Narrowband Internet of Things ) technology . But why this one and not another?

Unlike conventional Wi -Fi, the NB- IoT system has an exceptional penetration capacity. This is vital for Torrelavit, where many meters are located in underground boxes or in scattered farmhouses in areas such as Can Rosell or those scattered around Molí Parellada. In addition, it allows the equipment’s batteries to last for years and send data constantly without the need to enter any home. We have gone from manual reading to having the entire municipality connected in real time.

4. The silent watchman facing the challenges of our orography

Torrelavit has a spectacular landscape, but with a physical challenge: 27% of our soils have slopes greater than 20%. This means that the network, which works mostly by gravity, needs a perfect balance of pressures. This is where the digital platform acts as a “silent watchman”.

Thanks to real-time data analysis (SaaS), the system immediately identifies any reverse flow or attempted manipulation. In such rugged terrain, detecting an internal leak in a matter of minutes —and not waiting for the next bill— is the best tool to protect the water wealth that feeds from the 730 inhabitants of La Pineda to the 6 residents of La Riera.

5. From the well to the tap: end-to-end monitoring

This project doesn’t just change your home’s meter; it transforms the entire infrastructure. We’ve installed 21 industrial flowmeters to monitor every input and output of the system, from the deepest intakes to the reservoirs that regulate the supply.

This control network includes strategic points such as:

• Catchment wells: Such as those of Sant Isidre (1, 2 and 3), the Font de Sant Isidre, Mas Vendrell, the Pou del Baldiri in Can Rosell or the Pou de les Escoles.
• Regulation tanks: Located in the Industrial Estate, Mas Vendrell, Can Rosell and the Escoles-Piscina area.
• Distribution sectors: Controlling key areas such as Pineda Nova, the Mussons neighborhood , the Camí de les Hortes and the Poble area under the Molí street bridge.

6. Security and transparency under the European standard

Behind each consumption data is a robust security architecture. Not only do we strictly comply with metrological regulations (MID Directive 2014/32/EU and Order ICT/155/2020), but the privacy of our residents is guaranteed by the highest standards. Data management follows ISO 27001 and the GDPR, ensuring that each household’s information is encrypted and protected. Digitalization, yes, but with maximum confidence.

Conclusion: Management based on data, not intuition

In just 25 weeks, Torrelavit will have completed a comprehensive transformation. At a time when water management has become a state issue due to the climate crisis, our municipality is leaving behind the era of estimates to fully enter the era of water intelligence.

We have turned the physical world into data to protect our most precious treasure. The final question for all of us is: Now that we are able to see every drop that circulates through the network, are we aware of the responsibility we have to make truly sustainable use of it? In Torrelavit, technology is already giving us the answer.