New app helps Valencia homeowners prevent squatters by tracking water use
City council teams up with Emivasa to provide real-time alerts and promote sustainable water management
If you own a property in Valencia and are concerned about illegal occupation while it’s sitting empty, a new tool from the City Council and water company Emivasa could bring some much-needed peace of mind.This week, Valencia’s mayor, María José Catalá, unveiled a new mobile app that allows owners of vacant flats to monitor water consumption in real time. If water usage is detected where it shouldn’t be, the app sends out an alert – potentially flagging illegal squatting within just 12 hours.
“It’s a technological solution we’re implementing to strengthen the security of homeowners and to help boost the housing market in the city,” said Catalá during her visit to Emivasa’s headquarters in Vara de Quart. “We want to give homeowners a sense of security and offer all the solutions within our reach.”
The app doesn’t just monitor squatter behaviour — it also provides personalised alerts for property owners. For example, if no water is being used in a property that should be occupied, the app will send a notification, which could help people keep an eye on elderly relatives or vulnerable tenants.
The app also helps owners of second homes track their water consumption, ensuring there’s no unexpected usage while the property is empty. With a user-friendly interface, it lets property owners easily check for leaks, view detailed billing and consumption graphs, and receive notifications about potential issues.
A smarter, more sustainable way to manage water use
In addition to monitoring vacant properties, the app includes several features aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable water use. The tool provides real-time consumption data, so users can detect leaks immediately, rather than waiting for a delayed meter reading. This helps property owners take swift action to address issues and reduce unnecessary waste.
Among the new features are biometric access, personalised notifications for excessive consumption, and graphs showing water usage by time slot. The app also makes it easy to manage billing, view consumption habits, and pay bills securely from anywhere in the world.
"Artificial intelligence and technology are no longer the future; they are here now to promote greater information, transparency, and accessibility for citizens," said Ferrer San Segundo, Emivasa's spokesperson. "Digitalisation is essential, and it’s important that the process is easy and intuitive, so it’s accessible to as many people as possible."
Councilor Carlos Mundina pointed out that the tool is useful for both individual homeowners and property managers. "There are more than 40,000 owners with multiple meters who can activate the 'empty house' alert, which will trigger an alert if any suspicious consumption is detected," Mundina explained. "It’s also a great resource for professional property managers overseeing buildings with shared areas, gardens, or swimming pools."
Encouraging sustainable billing and digitalisation
As part of its efforts to promote more sustainable water consumption, Emivasa is also encouraging customers to switch to electronic invoicing. The company has launched a competition to incentivise this change, offering the chance to win an electric car in a raffle. The deadline for entries is 3rd June.
Global Omnium CEO Dionisio García Comín highlighted that the app was made possible thanks to the City Council’s commitment to installing remote metering 15 years ago, positioning Valencia as one of the most technologically advanced cities in the drinking water network.
With this new app, Emivasa aims to provide homeowners, landlords, and property managers with a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable way to manage their water usage, while also keeping a closer eye on their properties.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Valencia
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