Pending the drought decree, the residents of the Canyet neighborhood in Badalona are studying to repeat the complaint that in 2008 they submitted to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office due to the constant leakage of thousands of liters of drinking water from a pipeline of Aigües Ter Llobregat (ATLL) that since 2005 it has leaked two liters of water per second, or what would be the same as 172,800 liters per day that have gone into the sea for 17 years.
Three years after detecting the first leaks, which according to the Catalan Water Agency come from the water extraction pump that connects the Ter water treatment plant located in Cardedeu with the Trinitat distribution station in Barelona, the Neighborhood Association de Canyet reported the case to the Environment Prosecutor's Office, but his claim was dismissed when the prosecutor interpreted that the loss of water did not pose a serious risk to the environment and natural resources.
However, "the report made by the Mossos detected 11 major losses between Cardedeu and Barcelona," recalls Pepe Sánchez, president of the neighborhood association. Part of this lost water was diverted to the municipal property of Torre Codina, to a tank to be used for irrigation and road washing. At present, with the decree of drought that affects the city, the Badalona government assures that "we return to claim ATLL for its lack of responsibility" acknowledges Rosa Trenado, Councilor for the Natural Environment of the City Council.
"The neglect of institutions such as the ACA since the 1960s is an inexcusable situation" cry out the residents who still keep in their memory the promise "that the water leak would be resolved with works that should have started in 2009 "but that still are pending. A demand supported by the Badalona Federation of Vein Associations, which accuses the political leaders of "not correctly managing the purification of water in the metropolitan area".
For his part, the head of the water service of the Badalona City Council, Gregori Muñoz, recalls that the pressure from the city council in 2008 forced them to carry out a work that diverted part of the flow of water that leaks from the Cardedeu pipeline "towards the reservoir of irrigation”. But since then the dealership has not made any repairs.
For its part, the ACA diverts responsibility to the City Council. "After the works carried out, the agreement established that the infrastructures would become municipal ownership." The councilor strongly denies this, adding that "the city council carried out the work to divert part of the leak and prevent all of it from being lost, but that the fourth phase, which must include the repair, is the sole responsibility of the ACA."
But the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua is in no hurry. It recognizes as pending the work of the fourth section of canalization, which will have an investment of 36 million euros and which, according to sources from the entity, "is in the bidding process" that will end in 2024 or 2025. The works contemplate an alternative conduction and and the repair of the current one.
For the ACA, the loss of water in Badalona is not significant. They emphasize that the volume of water that circulates through the Canyet stream is two liters per second and reiterate that "it is water from the conduction mixed with natural contributions". Bearing in mind that this conduit transports an average flow rate of 4,000 liters per second, a loss of 2 liters is insignificant, which is why they consider that "its efficiency is 98%".
