Earthpulse deployed a satellite-based water monitoring system using high-resolution Sentinel-2 imagery from the European Union’s Copernicus programme. By combining Earth Observation data with AI-driven analytics, we transformed raw imagery into structured, actionable water quality indicators. The solution delivers scalable, continuous monitoring to support faster and more informed water management decisions.
Aigües de Manresa is the local water authority responsible for managing water resources in the Manresa region of Catalonia. Supplying drinking water to over 103,000 citizens, the utility must ensure high-quality water while responding to increasing environmental and operational pressures.
To strengthen reservoir monitoring and support data-driven decision-making, Aigües de Manresa partnered with Earthpulse to integrate satellite-based water quality analytics into its operations.
By Josep Renalias - Own work
Monitoring water quality in reservoirs is a core responsibility for public authorities and an increasingly complex one.
Climate variability, resource constraints, and operational demands make frequent, large-scale monitoring difficult. Traditional approaches rely on:
These methods limit the ability to monitor water quality consistently across space and time, and to respond quickly to emerging risks.
Aigües de Manresa needed a more scalable, automated solution that deliver reliable insights without increasing operational burden.
Earthpulse deployed a satellite-based water monitoring system leveraging data from the European Union’s Copernicus programme, specifically Sentinel-2 imagery.
The system have been used to monitor the Parc de l’Agulla reservoir in Manresa — a 0.64 km² artificial lake with a storage capacity of 200,000 m³.
Copernicus data provides unmatched temporal consistency, wide spatial coverage, and high radiometric reliability making it ideal for water quality monitoring and long-term environmental management.
The solution integrates advanced algorithms to transform raw satellite imagery into reliable water quality indicators, including:
To ensure high data quality and usability, Earthpulse implemented:
Beyond analytics, the system was designed with usability and confidence in mind.
Each monitored area includes a clear, colour-coded reliability layer:
Users can view a percentage breakdown of these conditions, giving them clarity on when and where the data can be trusted.
A simple binary “Yes/No” timeline indicates when atmospheric conditions allowed for valid data collection.
This transparency builds trust in satellite-derived insights and allows operators to plan actions with confidence.
The system represents a shift from fragmented, reactive monitoring toward continuous, scalable oversight.
Key improvements included: enable of near-real-time access to key indicators that support proactive water governance.
By leveraging trusted European satellite infrastructure, Earthpulse delivered a scalable and sustainable solution that supports informed decision-making today — and long-term resilience tomorrow.
By integrating satellite intelligence into its workflow, Aigües de Manresa achieved:
Acknowledgements: Aigües deManresa, Copernicus
Content from: NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies)