Mobile app to keep users informed about the Añarbe dam

Managing critical water infrastructure requires effective, transparent and accessible communication. In response to this need, and reaffirming its commitment to public service, Aguas del Añarbe has launched Añarbe Info, its new official citizen information app.

Designed to strengthen proactive communication with the public, the app improves the dissemination of relevant information and helps reinforce hydrological safety in the municipalities along the Urumea river (Hernani, Astigarraga and Donostia / San Sebastián), fostering a closer, more agile and more transparent relationship between the public service and the population.

Bringing public water information closer to citizens

During adverse weather events, enquiries to the Aguas del Añarbe website and its traditional customer service channels rise significantly. Likewise, when the reservoir level rises or water releases take place, passive communication channels, such as websites or press releases, do not always provide the speed needed to get critical information to the population.

In this context, and in line with the principles of transparency, accessibility and public service, the need arose for a citizen information app that brings together the main public data on water management. Añarbe Info includes a real-time river flow viewer, up-to-date information on the status of the water infrastructure and a push notification system that can deliver relevant alerts instantly.

This ability to communicate directly and in real time is essential for quickly passing safety alerts on to citizens and emergency services, enabling better coordination and helping to minimise risks to people, property and the environment.

The app serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it reduces the workload on conventional customer service channels and optimises internal resources by automating the dissemination of information when demand for information is high. On the other, it brings citizens technical data that has traditionally been reserved for specialists, turning it into visual, intuitive and easy-to-understand indicators. The app promotes transparency and access to public information, in line with the principles of open governance and the digitalisation of public services.

What does the Aguas del Añarbe mobile app do?

Until now, the corporate website already offered indicators on the state of the river basin. However, this new river flow monitoring app marks a qualitative leap by bringing public water data together in one place, improving the user experience and adding a crucial element: proactivity through instant alerts.

Through an attractive, intuitive and fully accessible interface, Añarbe Info users can access at any time:

• Real-time hydrological data

The app provides up-to-the-minute data on the reservoir’s fill level, recorded rainfall and inflows and outflows. It also includes specific information on the Añarbe and Urumea rivers, showing how both are evolving in a quick and accessible way and indicating their current threshold with a colour-coded system (green, yellow, orange and red).

• Official reports

View and download, directly in PDF format, the reports on the dam’s status and operations issued by the technical team.

• Push notifications

As a citizen information app, it combines two types of push alerts to keep both the public and emergency services (Civil Protection, local councils, etc.) informed:

– Start and end of water release operations

– Publication of status and operations reports

• Educational content and live images

The app includes an educational section explaining how the dam works and its role in water management. It also offers direct access to the dam cameras with live video streaming.

In short, Añarbe Info is more than a technological upgrade: it is a strategic step forward that strengthens the transparency, efficiency and closeness of Aguas del Añarbe to the public.

*The project has been funded under the PERTE for the Urban Water Cycle (Order TED/934/2022) with European Union NextGenerationEU funds and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).