In a global context where agriculture consumes 70% of all freshwater and climate change intensifies competition for this vital resource, irrigators’ communities stand at the frontline of an unavoidable transition. The Canal de las Aves, a hydraulic artery that supplies over 1,200 hectares of crops in the municipality of Aranjuez (Madrid, Spain), faces a critical crossroads: continue operating with outdated, inefficient systems exposed to significant losses, or transform into a model of water efficiency and agroclimatic sustainability. This project chooses the second path — and leads it.
Currently, the irrigation system operates through open canals, lacks volumetric control per plot, is burdened with aging infrastructure, and suffers high energy costs. These limitations constrain farmers’ ability to adapt to extreme weather events, integrate new technologies, or comply with emerging regulations on efficient water use. In this scenario, the strategic project for hydraulic modernization and digital management aims not only to optimize but to transform the way water is distributed, consumed, and governed in the middle basin of the Tagus River. Its objective is not simply to save water, but to reshape the future of agriculture in the region.
The intervention includes installing a pressurized irrigation network, remote telemetry systems, sectorized hydrants, and energy-efficient pumping stations, all integrated into a real-time digital management platform. This will significantly reduce conveyance losses (currently over 30%), improve equity in water allocation, and enable a shift toward precision, climate-resilient agriculture. Designed under the principles of VWBA 2.0, the project meets the criteria of additionality (it would not occur without this investment), intentionality (targeting a specific local water challenge), and traceability (each cubic meter saved will be measured and audited).
The initiative is led by the Canal de las Aves Irrigators’ Community as project owner and operator, supported by technical entities such as AIOLA Internacional as structurer, alongside providers of digital and energy solutions, and potentially agrifood companies interested in reducing or compensating their water footprint in the region. This multi-actor synergy makes the project replicable across other agricultural valleys in the Iberian Peninsula. Ultimately, this is not just about irrigating better — it’s about securing the future of agriculture through 21st-century infrastructure.
The solution involves deploying a pressurized irrigation network with sectorized telemetry, automated valves, pressure sensors, plot-level hydrants, SCADA platforms, and energy-optimized pumping systems using variable frequency drives and real-time analytics. This transformation will convert over 1,200 hectares of gravity-irrigated land into precision-farming-ready plots capable of fertigation and adaptive water planning. The total volume of water managed is estimated at over 3 million m³ annually, with a potential savings of approximately 30% — equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 12,000 people.
Immediate benefits include: a significant reduction in water withdrawals from the Canal de las Aves, lower energy consumption per cubic meter pumped, increased availability for multipurpose use (including potential environmental restoration or aquifer recharge), improved equity among users, and reduced emissions associated with pumping and water transport. The project will also allow the community to comply with future regulatory demands, access European sustainability funds, and position itself as a pioneer in regenerative and water-smart agriculture.
This model is highly replicable across hundreds of irrigation communities in Spain and southern Europe. It is especially attractive for agrifood, tech, or energy companies seeking to align their supply chain with ESG objectives, gain traceability of their water footprint, and engage in tangible, place-based water stewardship. Acting now is not just a strategic advantage — it is an operational and ethical imperative.
To address these structural, social, and environmental challenges, the project proposes integrated, transformative interventions:
Implementation is progressive, participatory, and technically robust, integrating infrastructure upgrades, system digitization, and agricultural transition. It begins with a social, technical, and environmental baseline, validated through fieldwork and community input.
Key infrastructure actions include:
Construction will be phased and coordinated with users to avoid disrupting services. Training workshops on data interpretation, system use, and sustainable agriculture will ensure long-term adoption.
Once operational, the system enters a validation phase based on VWBA 2.0 and WQBA indicators. Flow rates, efficiency per hectare, return water quality, and distribution equity will be monitored and reported via Aqua Positive, enabling the quantification of Water Benefits and public reporting.
The management model will be institutionalized through operational protocols, maintenance agreements, and community governance frameworks—positioning the project as a replicable benchmark for resilient, efficient, and equitable agricultural water use.
This project arises in response to a critical situation in agricultural water management in one of the most pressured regions of the Tagus basin. The current open-channel, manual system is marked by losses, inefficiency, and distribution conflicts.
Paired with chemically intensive agriculture degrading water quality, these challenges threaten the ecological health of the Jarama River and its ability to support diverse uses and biodiversity.
The proposed modernization focuses on three pillars: efficiency, quality, and equity. Technically, it envisions a shift toward a smart pressurized system with full monitoring and control. Regenerative agriculture will reduce pollution loads and improve ecosystem health. A digital water allocation system will resolve access conflicts and enhance community governance.
All elements are linked to Aqua Positive, where Water Benefits (VWBs) are calculated, additionality documented, and reports generated for regulatory or certification purposes. By design, the project guarantees traceability, permanence, and scalability.
In short, this is a systemic transformation of water governance in a critical agricultural territory. A replicable model blending technology, sustainability, and water justice.
