Showcasing the Case Study 1 at the Iberian Congress on Groundwater (CIAS 2026)

The URBANM2O project reached a significant milestone in its dissemination efforts, taking part in the prestigious Iberian Congress on Groundwater (CIAS 2026), held in Barcelona from July 1st to 4th.

Representing the project, Edwyn Andrés Pérez Ortiz and Estanislao Pujades Garnes from CSIC delivered a highly anticipated oral presentation titled: “Sensórica y monitoreo de aguas subterráneas urbanas: el proyecto URBANM2O en el caso de estudio de Sant Adrià del Besòs.”

This presentation served as a dual platform: it allowed Edwyn Andrés Pérez Ortiz to share key objectives of his PhD research while providing the broader scientific community with a comprehensive introduction to the URBANM2O initiative. The team detailed the project’s ambitious goals, which center on enhancing urban groundwater management through advanced sensing and monitoring technologies.

A core focus of the presentation was the Sant Adrià de Besòs Case Study (Case Study 1). As a “water-scarce city” facing severe climate change pressures, Sant Adrià de Besòs must increasingly rely on alternative water sources such as groundwater and urban runoff. However, these vital resources are threatened by pollution from the Besòs River, ageing sewer networks, and industrial discharge.

The team also provided a comprehensive summary of the project’s first-year activities, including the successful construction of piezometers and the deployment of cutting-edge sensor networks in Sant Adrià del Besòs. These preliminary results are pivotal in validating the project’s methodology and demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering precise, real-time data for sustainable urban water management.