Can the Ebro flows reach the center of Catalonia one day? The idea of connecting the supply networks of the Barcelona region with the supply networks of the Ebro reappears from time to time as an alternative to face the scarcity of resources in the central territory of Catalonia. And, in this sense, the environmental commission of the Col legi d'Enginyers de Camins has launched the proposal to interconnect the large supply networks of Catalonia. to "optimize" resources. The Col legi document does not detail whether the interconnection should be made with the CAT network in Tarragona (which carries water from the Ebro to Camp de Tarragona and to Cunit) or through the area served by the Segre. The door is left open to both options.
The college document considers that Catalonia "cannot leave the interconnection of its networks" of water for later. He argues that it is necessary to "overcome a technical and administrative division in the management of water resources" that "makes a truly comprehensive management difficult." The complaint is because the networks are totally segregated. The metropolitan networks (internal basins-rivers that are born and die in Catalonia) are under the umbrella of the Generalitat; on the other hand, those of the Ebro belong to the demarcation of the Ebro, based in Zaragoza. Any decision on the latter would require the approval of the central Administration.
The engineers do not present this proposal as an emergency work in the face of the drought, but rather as a structural measure to resolve future deficits in the metropolitan region.
Carles Conill, president of the school's environmental committee, points out that "it is time to consider this interconnection" given the scenario "of scant and irregular rainfall, and climate change that is coming our way." Its promoters are in favor of taking advantage of local resources (desalination, reuse and groundwater) and of executing the new works proposed to reuse water from the Besòs and everything planned by the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua. “We have shown that we know how to manage desalination plants and reuse,” says Conill.
However, they consider that this interconnection is also a solution to overcome the unequal impact of the drought on the availability of water in Catalonia. "Today, water restrictions -especially for domestic use- only affect a part of the territory, while another part enjoys almost sufficient resources for all uses," the document states.
“We are not at all talking about recovering the idea of transporting water to Barcelona as it was proposed years ago; it is not the vision; it is a question of optimizing the integral management of water throughout the territory”, says Conill, since “a meshed network is better than a branched network”. Reasons of "rationality" and "economic" are also used.
The interconnection of the CAT network in Tarragona was already proposed and promoted during the 2008 drought, when some spokespersons for the central Administration even stated that this work could be carried out in three months. The work, which was carried out, planned to join the CAT pipes in Tarragona with the metropolitan network in Abrera.
For its part, the Segre option could have a connection point in Tàrrega; The water would be pumped to the Rajadell stream (Montserrat massif), from where it would reach the Llobregat and the Abrera water treatment plant. Some sources believe that this option should be preceded by an agreement to improve and waterproof the Urgell canal and an agreement with the irrigation community through a public exchange of water rights.
The entire central region of Catalonia (224 municipalities and six million inhabitants), served by the Ter and the Llobregat, is now in an exceptional situation. This supposes water reductions of 40% for agricultural uses, 15% for industrial uses and the prohibition of irrigation of public and private green areas.
