Amazon projects tackle flooding risk in Spain
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will invest €17.2 million across three projects in Zaragoza, Spain. The projects will help to reduce the flood risk to more than 700,000 residents, modernise critical infrastructure, and optimise agricultural water use through artificial intelligence (AI).
Reducing the risk of flooding in Zaragoza
The projects are located in a region where AWS has invested heavily – a €15.7 billion investment in 2024 created an estimated 17,500 full-time equivalent jobs in local businesses on an annual average basis, and will contribute an estimated €21.6 billion to Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP) through to 2033.
The projects will tackle and mitigate water extremes from water scarcity to protecting communities by reducing flood risk. It will do this through improving water infrastructure, including: An AI cloud-powered, early-warning system to prevent flooding; a project to empower local farmers with AI technology to help maximise crop yields while reducing their water footprint; and infrastructure improvements to modernise a crucial water supply for the city of Huesca.
Building on successful implementations in the region
The three projects will bring AWS’ total number of water projects in the region up to five. Since 2023, a collaboration with FIDO Tech, an AI water leak detection company, has helped reduce water loss in Villanueva de Gállego. Amazon has also worked with environmental consultancy firm Mediodes to supply 864 million litres of clean water annually to the community in Pina de Ebro.
The projects serve two main purposes, the first, to help communities in areas where the AWS’ data centres are located by improving water availability and quality by restoring water sources, deploying smart water technology, and bringing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services to water-stressed areas. The second, to help AWS meet its target to be water positive by 2030 – it will return more water to the communities where its data centres are located than it uses in those same centres.
Kevin Miller, vice president of Global Data Centres at AWS, told media: "Water scarcity is a critical global issue, and we are committed to doing our part to help solve this challenge. The new water projects in Aragon are an example of how AWS is not merely operating here, but we're also partnering with local municipalities and organisations to build a better future.”
Using AI to reduce flood risk
Floods in the city of Zaragoza caused €125 million in infrastructure damage in 2023. AWS and its project partners are using advanced cloud computing technologies such as AI and Internet of Things (IoT) to work with the Zaragoza City Municipality on innovative flood management and water infrastructure improvements.
The project will use a number of strategies to alleviate future flooding risks:
- The city will deploy an intelligent AWS cloud-based warning system that combines real-time data collection with advanced sensor networks, IoT services, and AI-powered analysis to transform disaster response capabilities by continuously monitoring weather conditions and water flow. This will enable proactive infrastructure maintenance, predictive flood risk assessment, and automated early warning alerts that will be used to coordinate emergency response efforts.
- Additionally, Zaragoza City Municipality will build physical flood alleviation infrastructure at ‘Barranco de la Muerte’, a major source of the 2023 flooding. The new infrastructure will divert floodwaters to storage reservoirs, reducing downstream flash flooding risks. Stored water will later be treated and returned to natural waterways.
Natalia Chueca, mayor of Zaragoza told media: “AWS's innovative technology will revolutionise Zaragoza's water management and flood prevention capabilities. Its expertise will enable a level of protection for our citizens that was previously unimaginable.”
Maximising crops, minimising water use
Agriculture uses almost all of the water (90 per cent) in the Ebro basin – Spain’s longest river. AWS is working with AI cloud-based agriculture solution, Agrow, to offer 430 farmers in El Burgo de Ebro and the Villanueva de Gállego region improved insights into irrigation efficiencies designed to maximise crop yield while reducing water usage.
The insights will be based on weather data, soil typology, and crop type, among other parameters, and will guide farmers on where, when, and how much to irrigate their crops.
Antonella Maggioni, CEO of Agrow, told media: “We are proud to work with AWS to boost the agricultural revolution in Aragon, helping farmers to reduce their water footprint while maintaining productive and profitable operations.”
Modernising water infrastructure for a resilient future
The final project will modernise and revitalise the San Julian de Banzo pipeline, a crucial water supply for 56,000 people in Huesca. The pipeline has become damaged over time and its flow capacity limited by the high levels of sediment in the water.
Huesca City Municipality will replace a section of this pipeline with modern materials and implement efficient routing to a reservoir, significantly enhancing system reliability and operational capacity. This will strengthen Huesca's water infrastructure.
Lorena Orduna, mayor of Huesca told media: “The renovation of the San Julian de Banzo pipeline will allow us to recover the best quality water supply source we have. We will improve the service and guarantee an efficient and resilient supply system for the city.”
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