Uruguay Water Infrastructure Modernization
OSE 4.0: Modernization of National Water Management
Uruguay’s state-owned water utility, Obras Sanitarias del Estado (OSE), is launching a comprehensive modernization of its national water management systems. This initiative, which is funded by a USD 63 million loan from the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), represents a major digital and operational transformation of OSE’s nationwide water network, which serves approximately 99% of Uruguay’s population. It will create high-value procurement opportunities for U.S. technology, software, and engineering providers specializing in smart water networks, telemetry, industrial IoT, cybersecurity, and chemical process optimization.
The OSE modernization program is designed to address key challenges including inefficient commercial and operational management, high energy consumption, excessive use of treatment chemicals, aging infrastructure, and obsolete systems, while integrating advanced digital technologies across the utility’s operations. Key components include the creation of a real-time “Intelligent Monitoring Center,” a large-scale deployment of smart metering technology to improve leak detection, and the modernization of customer management platforms (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools, and billing systems.
In the first phase of the project, OSE will replace all legacy mechanical meters in Salto, Uruguay’s third-largest city, with a telemetry system covering 100% smart ultrasonic residential meters. OSE will also deploy remote control capabilities to automate local water purification and treatment plants, alongside remote monitoring systems for the city’s entire water distribution network. OSE will install 37,094 smart micro-meters with remote reading capability. OSE will establish a remote telecontrol center of 300m2 in Montevideo to monitor all water production, wastewater treatment, drinking water and sanitation systems and IoT sensors nationwide.
For U.S. firms interested in learning more about opportunities in Uruguay’s environmental technologies industry, please contact Office.Montevideo@trade.gov