Water Independence Goal by 2030
The CEO of Aigües de Barcelona, Felipe Campos, has reaffirmed the company’s objective to ensure the metropolitan area’s water supply no longer depends on rainfall. Speaking at the 'BCN Desperta!' event on Friday, 2 October 2026, Campos stated that the goal is to achieve a fully circular water model that guarantees supply regardless of climatic conditions. Campos highlighted the company’s commitment to water regeneration, stressing that infrastructure already in place along the Llobregat river must be replicated in the Besòs basin. The expansion is central to the €1.5 billion Next Generation-funded PERTE RESSONA project, which aims to produce 180 hm³ of regenerated, desalinated, and new water resources annually from both rivers.
We want to make sure that no future drought affects our ability to supply water to five million people in the metropolitan region.
€70 Million in Resilience Upgrades
Aigües de Barcelona has invested approximately €70 million in improving the resilience of its water network, with 79 infrastructure projects currently underway. These include technical trials across the network to assess the feasibility of reducing pressure in the event the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) declares a drought emergency. The company has completed the first phase of upgrades at the Besòs Water Treatment Plant (ETAP), restoring the use of water from the Rec Comtal channel. It has also proposed expanding the plant to capture water from the river’s upper reaches, alongside new wells and surface intakes.
Regeneration as Climate Response
In 2023, Aigües de Barcelona regenerated 57.9 hm³ of treated wastewater, equivalent to the annual consumption of 1.5 million people, and plans to scale this up across the region. The company views water regeneration as a structural solution to climate change, aligning with the European Union’s Environmental Taxonomy. Campos noted that geopolitical factors, including energy prices and supply chain disruptions, have prompted the company to activate an operational crisis committee to safeguard service continuity. The aim is to prevent any impact on end users despite global volatility. Further details on the company’s sustainability strategy and projects are available in the 2023 Sustainability Report and the official water regeneration portal.
Reported by Europa Press, aiguesdebarcelona.cat, ebabpre.aiguesdebarcelona.cat, vanlett.com, datoscif.es, app.staging.bsky.dev, Europa Press Barcelona.
