The central government and the Generalitat, the autonomous Catalan regional executive, have agreed to unblock the financing of two new desalination plants in Tordera and Foix, and to transfer water from Sagunto (Valencia) to Barcelona on 4 ships, starting from June , "if necessary", that is, if the unprecedented drought in the region continues, which has brought the basins below the warning threshold of 16% of capacity and to the declaration of emergency, with water rationing measures.
This was announced today by the Minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, and the Catalan Government's Climate Action Advisor, David Mascort, in statements to reporters after today's meeting.
Of the two new desalination plants, one will upgrade the current one in Tordera in Blanes (Girona) and another will be built in the Foix river, in Cubelles (Barcelona), for a total investment of 500 million euros.
The projects will be supported by the state company Acquamed to be completed in 2028 and 2029 respectively.
The president of the Valencian region, Carlos Mazon, yesterday asked the Ministry of Ecological Transition to guarantee "in writing" that the sending of water to Catalonia from the Sagunto desalination plant (Valencia) will not affect the supply of the Valencian coast, Iberian media, including La Vanguardia, report today
More than 1,300 points of illegal water extraction
During 2023, the Guardia Civil discovered 1,342 illegal water extraction points existing in Spain: this is what was reported in a budget note on the investigations carried out in this area, a sensitive topic also given the prolonged drought that is affecting several Spanish regions , especially Catalonia and Andalusia.
As a result of these police operations, 92 people ended up on the register of suspects for crimes linked to the illegal exploitation of water resources.
Of the illegal infrastructures created for unauthorized water extraction, 80% correspond to wells or drilling points.
There are also other infrastructures such as canals or basins, adds the Guardia Civil.
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