The Catalan Water Agency and Repsol agree to establish environmental flow of the river Gaiā

Tarragona. Costa Dorada. The board of the Catalan Water Agency has approved the July 23 agreement with Repsol intended establishment of environmental flows in the lower river Gaià under the Sector Plan Flow Maintenance of the basins of Catalonia, approved on 13 July 2006. The establishment of these ecological flows in the final stretch of the river Gaiā will enable proper management of applications, which makes them compatible with preserving and maintaining good environmental quality, and will be the beginning of the environmental rehabilitation which should allow the goal of good final stretch of the river Gaiā. Please note that since the entry into operation of the dam Catllar during September 1977, the river Gaiā has suffered a reduction in maintenance flow. By signing this agreement will ensure a full environmental and progressive improvement of river ecosystems. This agreement proposes the establishment of a reservoir management model based on the utilization of the storage of their capacity more efficiently. This operating model provides for the continued exploitation of water from the reservoir by existing dealers. Above a certain elevation reservoir, the agreement is consistent exploitation of water resources by existing licensees with the release of ecological flows downstream. Below this level of management states that the volumes will be stored and preserved for the use of irrigation as a strategic reserve for Repsol. The maximum flow regime maintenance release will vary between 90 liters per second of the summer and 124 liters per second the rest of the year, provided upstream of the reservoir there are contributions from water naturally. Repsol, continuing to pay for operation and maintenance of the reservoir, also assume the economic costs of the works necessary for the release of environmental flows. This agreement does not alter or affect the use or the concessions that are currently performing communities downstream irrigators Catllar. Use of reclaimed water The agreement provides that the Agency will replace the reduction of the use of water from the reservoir Catllar with the provision of reclaimed water from the purifier Vilaseca-Salou and Tarragona. Repsol water needs and, therefore, important to make this water consumption will be essential for the regular functioning of the tertiary treatment plant being built at the plant and Vila-seca Tarragona and is part of  the Agency to allow the use of reclaimed water to the industries of Tarragona. It is expected to work with a budget close to 42 million, ending at the end of the year.  

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