How do you run a modern water-distribution network across rugged hills, scattered reservoirs and scarce freshwater resources – all while upgrading from a legacy UHF system? ADALSA found the answer in RipEX.
https//www.racom.eu/eng/case/water-management-for-adalsa-in-southern-spain
Challenge: A Reliable SCADA Network for a Complex Water System
ADALSA (Aguas de Alcalá la Real) has managed potable water supply in Alcalá la Real, Andalusia, for more than 20 years. The region’s dry climate and dramatic terrain make water distribution extremely demanding:
- 15 catchments
- 29 regulation tanks
- 8 pumping stations
- More than 50 sites spread across challenging countryside
With a legacy UHF radio network reaching its limits, ADALSA needed a modern solution to improve:
- Robustness and long-term reliability
- Flexibility for future expansion
- Data throughput for increasingly complex SCADA applications
- Communication between SIEMENS S7-1200 RTUs across the entire network
Solution: RipEX 400 MHz – A Robust Platform for High-Efficiency Water Management
After evaluating several technologies, ADALSA selected RipEX as the backbone of its upgraded SCADA communication network.
Key reasons for choosing RipEX:
- High reliability and industrial-grade robustness
- Strong performance across long distances and mountainous terrain
- High throughput suitable for modern water-management automation
- Flexibility to support both centralised and peer-to-peer communication
A major advantage for ADALSA is that RipEX supports direct remote-to-remote communication – for example between a pumping station and a reservoir level sensor – without involving the base station. This reduces latency and improves operational responsiveness.
The network upgrade connects the control centre with all remote SIEMENS S7-1200-based RTUs, forming a resilient communication infrastructure for water distribution.
Results: More Efficient Water Use and a Future-Ready Network
Although the full migration is still in progress, ADALSA is already seeing major operational benefits:
- Increased robustness and reliability of SCADA communication
- Higher efficiency in water distribution and resource monitoring
- Improved flexibility for expansion and future automation needs
- More responsive control through direct remote-to-remote links
Encouraged by these early results, ADALSA is already planning further expansion of the RipEX network – helping secure the long-term water needs of Alcalá la Real and its 22,000 inhabitants.
