Although with contributions of sand despite some sterile controversy at the moment, the climate emergency will mark the bathing season on the beaches of the conurbation of the Catalan capital, managed by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB). The drought and the corresponding limitations on the use of water set by the Generalitat de Catalunya will prevent a very common gesture among the more than eleven million visitors who, according to data from last year, enjoy these enclaves of great natural and social value. As stated by the AMB on Wednesday in a press conference, neither the showers nor the classic footbaths will be available this year if the drought persists.
So, it will be time to clean the sand without water or already at home. On the other hand, said the head of the AMB beach service, Daniel Palacios, the use of the most precious and increasingly scarce liquid for cleaning will be reduced "by 80%." In addition, sanitation by hand and without machinery will increase, also because the entry of the machines, without space, is increasingly complex.
The retreat of the beaches worries the metropolitan mayors a lot. In this sense, several of them, last month, in full run-up to the municipal elections, staged a controversy with the Generalitat. They criticized a few words from the general director of Canvi Climàtic, Mireia Boya, in which she called for assuming that "some beaches will disappear" and she compared the contributions of sand that are made each year with "throwing away money".
But this area depends on the State and, in the part of the Llobregat delta, on the Port of Barcelona. And the arena is finally coming like every year. “It is being done,” confirmed the acting mayor of Gavà, Gemma Badia, relieved. However, the socialist once again claimed the need for "structural measures" to alleviate the regression of sandbanks in the metropolitan area. There are several mayors who express themselves in the same sense.
The manager of the AMB, Ramon Torra, explained that two studies are being drafted to address this issue in depth. He added that there are two more in the bidding process and that another one is also planned for a total of five. Structural measurements can come out of these X-rays. Torra reported that the Montgat beach in the "closest area to the Masnou port" and the part "closest to the Port of Barcelona" of the El Prat beaches are the areas most affected by the loss of sand.
Although it may not be a sufficient measure to completely mitigate the regression of the beaches, the AMB's commitment to the dune system does alleviate the situation. In addition, it does so naturally and also recovering flora and fauna.
In a project that has achieved European recognition from the New European Bauhaus award, the dune area has grown by 45,100 m2 in seven years, which is equivalent to four and a half football fields, said the AMB. Despite this increase, in some places they have also taken a step back precisely because of the regression of the beaches.
Another of the novelties of the bathing season seeks to adapt to existing social habits: the cleaning schedule will be adapted so as not to disturb people who enjoy the beaches at night.
