Coincidence or not? On the same day that La Vanguardia reported on the coincidence in time of two projects of artificial wave pools for the practice of surfing in Catalonia, in Cunit and Sabadell, the City Council of the Valais city announced yesterday, through a communiqué, which temporarily paralyzes the processing to authorize the installation of the SurfCity project due to the drought. The promoters of this initiative defend its sustainability: "The pool will be compact and will have 11,088 m3 of water, coming from an underground mine with water that is not from the mouth and with low consumption".
Municipal sources pointed out that "in view of the drought situation and the climatic conditions, the government of Sabadell has decided to stop the process started to authorize the installation of a surfing sports center that a private company planned to build in sports ring of Sant Oleguer". The Consistory details that the administrative process "is at the moment of initial approval of the set of administrative clauses that should govern the possible concession". The project, since its inception, has been opposed by ERC, commons and La Crida and environmental groups. In view of the allegations presented, the City Council already announced that it would voluntarily submit the project to an environmental assessment by the Generalitat. For now, the Climate Action technicians have not spoken out, despite the fact that, in October, the City Council presented several reports on the consumption of water and energy and wildlife.
Sabadell City Council points out that the lack of water in recent months in Catalonia is a determining factor in the decision. "In view of the evolution of the drought situation and the measures that must be taken to combat it, and after deep reflection, it has been considered that in the current context the conditions are not given to continue with the processing of the project".
The government of Marta Farrés (PSC) recalls that in November the Generalitat decreed the pre-emergency phase with new measures in municipalities supplied by the Ter-Llobregat system, including Sabadell, to reduce water consumption. Probably, in January, the Catalan Executive will decree the transition to the emergency phase at level 1, which would entail new restrictions. In this context, the City Council "wants to take the opportunity to add to the claims for the necessary investments to guarantee water supply and also promote desalination plants, regeneration and financial support so that local bodies can carry out works to increase the ability to use regenerated water networks, optimize the municipal supply network and control and repair pipes”.
