Catalonia has taken a historic step towards water security and risk prevention. The Sau Reservoir, located in the Osona region, is now the first internal basin reservoir in Catalonia to officially activate its Emergency Action Plan, marking the beginning of a rollout to additional critical infrastructures through 2025 and 2026.
This milestone was achieved through the strategic collaboration between the Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA) and the joint venture UTE Cardoner–Lafcarr, in charge of implementing and executing this comprehensive alert and risk management system.
What Is an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for Reservoirs?
Emergency plans for reservoirs are designed to protect lives in the event of dam failures, overflow, or structural issues. These plans include:
- 📢 High-power sirens for rapid public warning.
- 🗺️ Flood zone maps and evacuation routes.
- 🧭 Response protocols for the critical first 30 minutes.
- 📊 Real-time remote monitoring and telemetry integration.
Sau: First Deployment, First Success
The project at Sau included the installation of three high-powered sirens in strategic locations across Vilanova de Sau and Osor. These have already been tested with successful sound drills, as reported by TV3.
The siren system is integrated with a 24/7 remote control system linked to the Civil Protection Coordination Center (CECAT), ensuring immediate and centralized emergency response.
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Lafcarr: Integrated Risk Management with iDAM
In this project, Lafcarr contributed not only the alert infrastructure but also its proprietary platform iDAM, which enables:
- 🔎 Continuous monitoring of hydraulic and weather parameters.
- 📈 Real-time map visualization of risk zones.
- 🗂️ Digital emergency plan management including technical sheets and protocols.
- ⚙️ Full integration with ACA and CECAT for informed decision-making.
Thanks to iDAM, Sau Reservoir now operates with a complete solution that automates, visualizes, and executes each step of the protocol efficiently and in a fully documented manner.
Regional Investment and Expansion
The project is funded with an investment of €3.8 million by the Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA), co-financed by European Union ERDF funds. Following the successful activation at the Sau Reservoir, ACA has confirmed the extension of this model to other strategic reservoirs within Catalonia’s internal basins.
Emergency discharge at Sau Dam under the official civil protection plan.
The next reservoirs scheduled to implement Emergency Action Plans using the same technology are:
La Baells
Foix
La Llosa del Cavall
Darnius Boadella
These deployments will follow the same technical approach: acoustic alert systems, remote monitoring, and digital risk management through platforms such as iDAM.
All systems are expected to be fully operational by late 2025 and early 2026, creating a pioneering water safety network in Europe.
Lafcarr is fully prepared to support this expansion with proprietary technology, proven expertise, and a strong public commitment.
Key Safety Tips for Citizens
In case of a reservoir emergency:
- Move to higher and safer ground.
- Stay away from rivers, streams, or flood-prone crossings.
- Follow instructions from Civil Protection authorities.
- Use your phone only for real emergencies.
- If at home, disconnect gas and electricity before evacuating.
A Safer Future Starts with Smart Technology
This emergency plan is more than a protocol — it’s a new culture of prevention, resilience, and smart risk management. At Lafcarr, we are proud to contribute with our technology, engineering, and social responsibility.
📩 Want to implement an alert or emergency system for your infrastructure?
👉 Contact us and we’ll advise you.
