The severe drought situation affecting Catalonia, especially the central region and areas of Girona and the Costa Brava, has led the Spanish government to take extraordinary measures to supply water to Barcelona. One of the proposed solutions is the transport of desalinated water in ships from the Sagunt desalination plant, located in Valencia.
This plan, which is not yet immediate and is expected to be implemented by the summer, seeks to alleviate the water shortage in the region and guarantee the supply for domestic consumption.
The initiative, which has the support of the president of the Generalitat de Valencia, Carlos Mazón, is presented as an act of solidarity between autonomous communities in the face of the water emergency facing Catalonia.
Mazón expressed his support for the measure and insisted that desalinated water be used primarily for human consumption, avoiding its use for agricultural irrigation due to its possible negative impact on crops and the environment.
Water will arrive from the Sagunt desalination plant in boats
The Spanish Government’s proposal involves the daily transport of water in ships from the Sagunt desalination plant to Barcelona, although the exact starting date will depend on the evolution of the drought emergency.
Meanwhile, reservoirs in the Barcelona region continue to experience a worrying decline in their reserves, underscoring the urgency of finding solutions to guarantee water supply to the population.
The transport of desalinated water from Valencia to Barcelona represents an exceptional measure to address the water crisis affecting the region. However, it is recognized that this solution is not sufficient to cover all the daily water demand in the metropolitan area, as it could only provide about 8% of the total consumption.
Therefore, it is necessary to explore other alternatives and continue the search for long-term solutions to ensure the sustainability of water supply in the region.
New desalination plants to be financed in Catalonia
In addition to the transport of water in ships, the Government and the Generalitat have agreed to unblock the financing of new desalination plants in Catalonia, with the aim of increasing the production capacity of drinking water and diversifying the sources of supply.
These initiatives, together with the collaboration between autonomous communities and the coordination of efforts at the national level, are fundamental to face the water crisis and ensure an adequate water supply for all citizens.
The transport of water in ships from the Sagunt desalination plant to Barcelona represents an emergency measure to deal with the drought in Catalonia. This initiative, supported by the Government and the Generalitat, reflects the importance of solidarity and cooperation between autonomous communities in times of crisis.
