Barcelona is facing a severe drought, and residents are feeling the effects. To combat the water scarcity, authorities are planning to install a floating desalination plant in the Port of Barcelona. This plant will have a capacity of 40,000 m3 of water per day, providing a sustainable solution to the city’s water needs.
The floating desalination plant is expected to produce about 6% of the water consumption in the Barcelona metropolitan area, equivalent to 14 million m3 of water per year. The cost of producing water using this plant is significantly lower than using transport ships, making it a cost-effective solution for the city.
Barcelona previously relied on Europe’s largest desalination plant, Llobregat, but it is unable to meet the current demands due to the prolonged drought. The government believes that floating desalination plants are a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution compared to transporting water from other sources.
To make this project possible, authorities plan to install 12 mobile desalination plants in the northern Costa Brava region to meet the water supply needs in that area. If the Catalonia region’s water collection system reaches a stage 2 emergency drought, which is expected before October, these plants will become operational.
Implementing sustainable water solutions like this floating desalination plant in Barcelona is crucial as temperatures and drought conditions continue to rise in Europe. This plant not only helps alleviate the water shortage in the city but also contributes to environmental conservation efforts.
Overall, this project highlights how innovation and sustainability can work together towards addressing pressing challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.