> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Besòs Flooding Revives Three Chimneys Development Debate - URL: https://barna.news/besos-flooding-revives-three-chimneys/ - Published: 2026-10-11T18:35:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-11T18:36:38.000Z - Description: Recent storm surges have reignited concerns over flood risks and the planned 1,800-home neighbourhood near Sant Adrià’s Three Chimneys. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: Urban Development ## Floodwaters Highlight Climate Risks On Monday 5 October 2026, torrential rains caused the Besòs river to swell to 937 cubic metres per second, the highest flow recorded in over two decades and one of the most severe in the river’s history this century. Images of the river at the brink of overflowing, with the iconic Three Chimneys of Sant Adrià de Besòs in the background, have reignited public debate over a major urban development planned in the flood-prone estuary zone. The Besòs river, which flows through highly urbanised areas of the Barcelona metropolitan region including Granollers, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià, has a history of catastrophic flooding, most notably in 1962 when over 600 people died. The recent downpours, which brought more than 360 litres per square metre to parts of Vallès Oriental, have reminded residents and officials alike of the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather. --- ## Controversial Development Under Scrutiny The future neighbourhood of the Three Chimneys, planned at the mouth of the Besòs between the Forum and Badalona port, includes the construction of 1,800 homes. The project, promoted by the Besòs Consortium, aims to reconnect Sant Adrià del Besòs to the seafront and redevelop a long-neglected industrial zone. However, environmental and neighbourhood platforms have long opposed the plan, arguing that building in a known flood-risk area increases danger from both river overflows and coastal storms. In the wake of the latest flooding, these groups have intensified their calls to halt or revise the project. > It is absurd to believe that, because it is floodable, we should not do anything there. If humanity accepted this logic, there would not be a Japanese person left in Japan, nor a Dutch person in the Netherlands. , Ferran Falcó, General Director, Besòs Consortium ### Flood Mitigation Measures in Place The Consortium defends the project’s safety, stating that the Urban Master Plan (PDU) incorporates multiple protective measures. These include: - The new Llevant collector, designed to accelerate water discharge to the sea during floods; - Raising the main street level in the new neighbourhood by three metres to improve drainage; - A 90,000-square-metre coastal park engineered to withstand flooding and enhance water infiltration; - Underground siphon passages to manage extreme overflow events. The Consortium notes that the 937 m³/s peak flow during the recent storm remains "clearly below" the 3,160.9 m³/s threshold modelled in the 2024 Flood Hazard and Risk Map (Mapri), which anticipates 500-year flood events. ### Critical Infrastructure Gaps Remain Despite these safeguards, the Consortium acknowledges that the storm exposed weaknesses beyond the PDU’s scope. The railway bridge near the river mouth is identified as a "main critical point", its current structure restricts water flow and acts as a bottleneck during high discharge. Raising or replacing the bridge is now a priority. The issue underscores broader challenges across Catalonia, where local mayors, such as those in Roda de Berà and El Vendrell, have called for urgent coordination between the Generalitat, the Spanish state, and Renfe to address how national infrastructure like the N-340 road and rail lines disrupt natural water drainage. --- ## Wider Flood Risks Across Catalonia The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) updated its flood-risk map in 2025, adding 90 new at-risk river sections across 40 municipalities, extending vulnerable zones by 172 kilometres compared to the 2018 version. This expansion reflects growing recognition that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall. Recent events, including storms in Maresme, Tarragona and Vallès, have repeatedly overwhelmed drainage systems. In Barcelona, rainfall on 5 October was the heaviest in 60 years, flooding underpasses and roads. Authorities warn that without faster adaptation, future episodes could be far more destructive. --- *Primary sources:* [*bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/jspui/browse?type=cobertura&value=Bes%C3%B2s+%28Catalonia+%3A+Watercourse%29&ref=barna.news)*. Reported by en.ara.cat, en.wikipedia.org, thelocal.es, metropoliabierta.cat, larazon.es, beteve.cat, Europa Press, divulgameteo.es.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Severe Storm Floods Parts of Barcelona](https://barna.news/severe-storm-floods-parts-of-barcelona/) - [Santa Coloma to Build Public Housing on Monturiol Axis](https://barna.news/santa-coloma-to-build-public-housing-on/) - [Updated: Sant Adrià Bridge Debris Raises Flood Risk](https://barna.news/sant-adria-bridge-debris-raises-flood/) - [Besòs River Park Reopens Partially After Flood](https://barna.news/besos-river-park-reopens-partially/)