Nitrate pollution, primarily originating from industrial livestock farming and the use of agricultural fertilizers, remains a concern in Catalonia. These contaminants often reach water sources and intake points, affecting regions like Osona and Lluçanès, where nearly half of the springs show contamination. In some cases, nitrates complicate the water purification process for water drawn from wells.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, 118 Catalan municipalities have recorded nitrate levels exceeding 30 mg/L. Affected locations include Terrassa, Vallirana, Cunit, and Cambrils. While this value is not considered a risk and does not breach the legal limit, it is the threshold set by the European Commission to initiate reduction actions. It is important to note that not all distribution networks in these municipalities contain nitrates, but they have been detected at some control points.
The situation is more critical in 21 towns, where 28 distribution networks exceed the European threshold of 50 mg/L. These municipalities, mostly small and located in Conca de Barberà, Segarra, and Anoia (such as Font-rubí, Ribera d’Ondara, and Pujalt), often face difficulties in applying advanced treatments to well water. In the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, only Vallirana exceeds 30 mg/L; large water treatment plants remove nitrates, but the problem persists where well water is used without adequate treatment.
Nationally, locations in Teruel, Castilla y León, and the Valencian Community also show concerning levels. The European Commission indicates that a quarter of Spanish territory is at risk due to "diffuse pollution" and urges the Government to develop solutions. Brussels has already warned Spain on several occasions, sending letters of formal notice to regions like Murcia or Castilla y León.
Ecologists in Action believes the WHO's 50 mg/L limit is "insufficient" and proposes reducing it to ensure higher quality water, especially for children. Joan García, a professor of environmental engineering, suggests two solutions: long-term, reducing nitrate discharge and restoring aquifers; short-term, treatments like reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, or biological denitrification. Magnus Jern, co-founder of Tappwater, highlights the rise of domestic filtration systems, while warning about their energy consumption.
