Coincidence or not? Just the same day that La Vanguardia reported on the coincidence in time of two artificial wave pool projects for surfing in Catalonia, in Cunit and Sabadell, the City Council of the Vallesan city announced yesterday, through a statement, that it is paralyzing temporarily 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 tap water and with low consumption.”
Municipal sources indicated that “given the drought situation and the weather conditions, the government of Sabadell has decided to stop the process initiated to authorize the installation of a surf sports center that a private company planned to build in the Sant Oleguer sports ring.” The City Council details that the administrative process “is at the moment of initial approval of the list of administrative clauses that should govern the possible concession.” The project, since its beginning, has been opposed by ERC, Comuns and La Crida and environmental groups. Given the allegations presented, the City Council already announced that it would voluntarily submit the project to an environmental evaluation by the Generalitat. For now, the Acció Climàtica technicians have not commented, despite the fact that, in October, the City Council presented several reports on water and energy consumption and fauna.
The City Council points out that the lack of water in recent months in Catalonia is a determining factor in the decision. “Given the evolution of the drought situation and the measures to be adopted to combat it, and after deep reflection, it has been considered that in the current context the conditions do not exist 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 that are supplied by the Ter-Llobregat system, including Sabadell, to reduce water consumption. Probably, in January, the Government will decree the transition to the emergency phase at level 1, which would entail new restrictions. In this framework, the City Council “wants to take the opportunity to join the demands for the investments necessary to guarantee the water supply, also promoting desalination plants and regeneration, as well as financial support so that local entities can carry out works to increase capacity.” of use of regenerated water networks, optimize the municipal supply network and control and repair pipes.”
