Below, you will find information on the regulatory bases for the PERTE call for Water Cycle Digitalization.

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The main objective of this PERTE is the modernization of the water cycle through three tools: digitalization, innovation and training. We want to make water management efficient and sustainable. The four specific objectives of PERTE are:

• Improve knowledge of water uses to consolidate integrated management of water resources.
• Increase transparency in water management in Spain.
• Contribute to the fulfillment of the environmental objectives established in hydrological planning.
• Generate employment with high technical qualifications.

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What are the lines of action?

The 4 lines of action of PERTE fully cover the management of the hydrological cycle in:

• Improving governance in the area of water use management
• Promoting the digitalization of basin organizations
• Development of programs and grants to promote digitalization for different water users in Spain
• Promotion of training and innovation in digital skills in water administration and management

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What is the expected investment?

PERTE's planned investment in the digitalization of water amounts to around 3,060 million euros, 1,940 of which came from European funds and the regular budget of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and the rest from private capital. In addition, it will activate the creation of approximately 3,500 quality employees, opening up new professional niches in water management.

• Aid programs will be funded to promote the digitalization of different water users.
• Throughout 2022 and 2023, several calls for grants will be launched for administrations and entities competent in the urban water cycle, industry and for irrigation and groundwater user communities. This line of action involves a direct investment of 1.7 billion euros, which will result in an additional mobilization of 1,120 million in public-private collaboration.
• 200 million euros will be allocated to digitalization in irrigation. Among other measures, these grants will be aimed at increasing the implementation of meters in water intakes and in plots, improving soil moisture and conductivity control systems, increasing the measurement of fertilizer inputs or automating irrigation systems.
• The PERTE proposes an investment of 225 million euros to modernize and promote digitalization in basin organizations and Automatic Hydrological Information Systems. Beyond facilitating the digitization of administrative procedures, the project will serve to reinforce programs for monitoring and controlling discharges through real-time monitoring systems.

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Who can benefit from PERTE?

The potential beneficiaries of the grants may be operators of urban water supply, sanitation and purification services in one or more municipalities, both in the case of the provision of such services under direct and indirect management.

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Grants may be requested by any administration that manages urban water, such as municipalities, councils, etc. The beneficiaries may be beneficiaries individually or collectively through the group of individuals or legal entities, public or private, in accordance with the provisions of the General Law on Subsidies.

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What organizations participate in PERTE?

For the coordination and governance of PERTE at the state administrative level, a working group is created that will be composed of the following ministries:

• Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO)
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAPA).
• Ministry of Health.
• Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation (MAETD).
• Ministry of Territorial Policy.
• Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (MINCOTUR).
• Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (CEDEX-MITMA)

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On June 29, the PERTE allegation period ends and the comments will be analyzed and those that are consistent with the characteristics of the call to approve the ministerial order and begin the formal appeal will be incorporated.

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You can find more information about the PERTE for digitizing the water cycle in the Next link.