In the mountainous municipality of Vacarisses near Barcelona, the local water utility faced mounting challenges due to aging infrastructure, recurring drought conditions and widespread leakages. With 40 percent of water consumption lost through leaks – many from unknown parts of the network – and mechanical meters aged between 20 and 30 years, the system lacked both accuracy and efficiency. Manual meter readings across the municipality’s 100 kilometre network across 17 towns took 21 days to complete. In 2022, Spanish authorities mandated supply cuts due to drought, prompting Vacarisses Municipality to take action.

Following a market study, Vacarisses Municipality selected Kamstrup’s flowIQ® 2200 smart water meters with integrated acoustic leakage detection. These meters were installed to replace the outdated mechanical models, aiming to reduce water loss, lower costs and streamline operations. The implementation included Kamstrup’s READy mobile reading app, which helped field teams locate and document old meters with photos and readings, facilitating smooth integration with the new smart meters. Plans are underway to implement a fixed network to provide real-time consumption tracking and leak alerts for end users.

Just three months after installation, the municipality began to see results. A major leak was quickly identified and repaired, saving EUR 5,600 annually. Overall meter reading time dropped from 21 days to under five hours. Additional leaks representing 15 percent of consumption were located, contributing to total savings of over EUR 70,000 per year.