Groundwater as emergency exits in the face of drought for councils, especially small municipalities, farmers, farm owners and even companies. With dozens of towns already in the hands of tankers and many agricultural holdings without being able to irrigate, exploration and the drilling of new wells is proliferating in Catalonia.
The need, which when it comes to a lack of water to drink or irrigate is almost despair, has made the controversial figure of the saurín emerge, linked to the rural world in search of wells, in parallel with the scientifically based knowledge of hydrogeologists and companies dedicated to the collection of underground water.
"We suffer from Saurians, we are placed on the same level, but it is not scientific or verifiable; this is a subjective and arbitrary feeling. They have caused many misfortunes, a lot of public money has been thrown away", says the hydrogeology company that is advising the Espluga de Francolí Council.
With supply cuts during the nights and dependence on tankers since last summer, in this municipality of the Conca de Barberà, when a first diagnosis is finished, they will decide if new wells can be drilled. "There are underground water investigation processes that can last three years." The idea here is to do it before.
Meanwhile, the cell phone of Pere Sanromà, renowned saurian from the Vespella de Gaià (Tarragonès), keeps ringing. At the age of 76, he assures that he has helped locate "hundreds" of wells, more than 50 for councils, and quotes La Vanguardia in a vineyard estate near Sant Jaume dels Domenys (Baix Penedès).
"It's a superwell, it's exciting," says smiling Magí Pallarès, owner of some young vines that he feared he wouldn't be able to water. Next to it, Sanromà happily displays the generous stream of water that comes out of the ground thanks to a well 50 meters deep. Pallarès, former mayor, says he is considering exploring a new well if he wins the election.
Right now they are measuring the capacity and the first data show a capacity of 18,000 liters per hour. The water analyzes are good and the owners of the farm are determined to go ahead with the investment, of around 30,000 euros.
The drilling is done by a company from Castelló, Aquasond. "We are giving a date for the end of August, we are not giving the scope. We have never experienced anything like it", says Manel Sancho, its founder. Half a century making wells. "Hydrogeologists or saurians? I won't answer, one or the other would get angry."
"With the Saurians it's like with God, you either believe in it or you don't," repeats Sanromà, who explains that he charges between 200 and 300 euros per well. Not far away, in Masllorenç (Baix Penedès), the mayor explains that with the help of a saurín, coincidentally Sanromà, they have located a vein of water located between 250 and 300 meters deep. "If there is enough water we will have a better summer. The situation is dramatic", explains the mayor of a town (570 residents) that has been dependent on tanker trucks since the summer: 100,000 euros spent.
In Masllorenç, they have already processed the permits at the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), which has jurisdiction over a public resource such as groundwater, whether on public or private farms. You can't drill underground without permission. A company, with the support of a technician, will execute the well. "It's scary, let's see if we're lucky and there's water. We are saddened."
The proliferation of wells and the overexploitation of aquifers worries experts. "We can't give up, it's water that's also finite", warns Albert Soler, dean of the Faculty of Earth Sciences (UB). Many wells have dried up after more than two years without significant rains, so the drilling must be done at a greater depth.
Soler also warns of the importance of making the wells with hydrogeologists and accredited companies. "If you look for the deepest aquifer and cross other aquifers contaminated by nitrates, for example, you can contaminate everything", warns the dean. Another danger is overexploiting aquifers on the coastline, which generates seawater intrusion and resource depletion.
"When I hear the word saurín, my hair stands on end; they find water because they know where to look for it. It has no scientific basis, zero, but they do have experience. It is contempt for a resource as precious as water", concludes Soler.
