Work on a new water pipe connecting the Cardedeu treatment plant to Barcelona is 50% complete, according to sources familiar with the project. This pipeline is essential to stop chronic water leaks affecting Badalona and Santa Coloma.
The project, which began in late 2024, is experiencing slight delays, but sources told El Periódico these are normal for such works. They guarantee the pipe will be ready during 2026. Officials stated that a few months' delay is "no drama" given current water abundance and confirmed that no work has stopped.
This pipeline is part of the Catalan government's "water transition" plan, coordinated by the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition. The plan focuses on three key processes: potabilisation, regeneration, and desalination. The ultimate goal, according to Minister Sílvia Paneque, is to reduce Catalonia's reliance on rainfall and ensure supply from unconventional sources during future droughts.
Advancing Water Infrastructure
Beyond new treatment facilities, the department also plans to reactivate wells, accelerate the sewage treatment network, and replace old, inefficient pipes. While the full scope of new plants is set for beyond 2030, several projects are scheduled to become operational in the coming months.
In the Llobregat area, the Estrella drinking water treatment plant (ETAP) in Sant Joan Despí has completed testing and is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2026. This will add up to 8 cubic hectometres of water annually to the Ter-Llobregat system, which serves Barcelona and other areas like Girona, improving resource use in a critical metropolitan supply zone.
Also in the Llobregat, the Sant Feliu de Llobregat Water Regeneration Station (ERA) is progressing. This facility, designed to treat more river water, is in an advanced stage and is expected to start operating in the first half of 2026. It will provide about 10 cubic hectometres of regenerated water annually, a key resource for reducing pressure on rivers and reservoirs. The government aims to incorporate this new model into a new law, as current regulations do not permit the use of regenerated water for pre-potable purposes before it reaches homes.
Besòs and Empordà Projects
The Besòs river is another immediate focus, with the government aiming to make it the second major metropolitan water source. The Trinitat Besòs treatment plant is being expanded, with this upgrade also expected to finish in the first half of 2026. This improvement will add up to 15 cubic hectometres annually to the system. Further treatment and regeneration plants are planned for the Besòs later, as per the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) timeline.
Outside the metropolitan area, some short-term projects are nearly complete. This includes work on the Ter and Onyar river wells and projects in Alt Empordà, a region severely affected by drought. The Figueres treatment plant reformulation up to the Muga river in Pont de Molins is finished, as are the ultrafiltration treatment at the Empuriabrava treatment plant and desalination modules. Five wells around Peralada are also complete, though they still need power to become operational.
Future plans include emergency water supply from the Rubí stream to the Llobregat, alongside three new desalination plants. These initiatives collectively aim to secure Catalonia's water future.
