The traveling exhibition Operation Water, promoted by Veolia, can be visited at the Plaça de l’Ermengarda in Palafrugell until February 26. The exhibition, presented by Laia Arnau, Head of Distribution for Veolia in Girona and the Costa Brava, seeks to promote a critical view on water management, addressing issues such as contamination, consumption, availability, and the consequences of poor resource management.
“"We must make more efficient and sustainable use to avoid repeating scenarios like the last drought."
Arnau stressed that the world faces a changing scenario due to climate change, with more irregular and extreme rainfall making aquifer recharge difficult. Furthermore, the exhibition highlights the alarming fact that 800 million people worldwide still lack access to drinking water, underscoring the importance of responsible use.
The municipality of Palafrugell, like the rest of the Baix Empordà region, faces strong seasonal pressure during the summer due to tourist influx, which drastically increases consumption. To address this challenge, Veolia and the Palafrugell City Council are executing a renovation project covering one kilometer of the network, splitting the main pipeline to separate transport from distribution. This work, currently in its third phase at Plaça Nova, is expected to finish before Easter.
Another priority is the digitalization of the service. Palafrugell already has 94% of its meters equipped with telemetry, one of the highest figures in the region. This technology allows for remote readings, leak detection, and minimizing water loss, according to Arnau, who concludes that the future of water service relies on digitalization, sustainability, and collaboration between the administration and the management company.
“"We still take it for granted that we will always have water from the tap. And that is not true."
