The UAB implements important water saving measures to face drought in Catalonia

In view of the severe drought affecting Catalonia, the UAB has implemented a set of water conservation measures, which are in line with the Special Action Plan in situations of alert and possible drought approved by the Government of Catalonia, reinforced by Decree Law 1/2023, which establishes extraordinary and urgent measures in the area of the river basin district of Catalonia.

All UAB centres (Bellaterra campus and teaching units in Sabadell, Badalona and Barcelona) belong to the exploitation unit of the Ter-Llobregat network, the origin of its water resources. Since 1 March 2023, the Ter-Llobregat system is in an exceptional situation, and since Wednesday 29 November, a new pre-emergency scenario has been activated. To best deal with these scenarios, the UAB is implementing a series of measures at the Bellaterra campus.

Since the beginning of the exceptional situation in March, the UAB has adopted some measures based on the restrictions imposed by the Government of Catalonia and applicable to all users: with regard to irrigation, only drip irrigation and survival areas are irrigated with water from the supply network. Overall, 7 hectares have not been irrigated with sprinkler irrigation, an area equivalent to approximately 78% of the irrigated area of the campus.

Another measure that has been applied involves the Physical Activity Service (SAF), where the hydromassage bath has been turned off and the artificial grass football field is no longer watered. Another measure that has already been applied is that no external watering is carried out with water from the supply network, such as streets, façades, urban furniture or vehicles.

Additional measures applied by the UAB

The UAB is applying other additional measures to complement those imposed by current regulations. This is the case of teaching and research facilities, which affect habitat changes. For example, four tank circuit cooling systems have been installed in teaching and research areas, which will mean an expected annual saving of 293,000 litres of water. In these installations the format of the practice is also changed in order to minimise water consumption.

Revisions and adjustments have also been made to the push button faucets in different buildings to reduce the flow to 3 l/min (until now some were between 8-10 l/min), as well as reduce the water pressure in the Physical Activity Service. Aerators have been installed in the SAF (representing a reduction from 8 l/min to 4 l/min), which will cover 65% of the total number of toilets.

A campaign is also being carried out to detect and repair possible leaks in the water network. Detected leaks have been repaired, such as the leak of 7 m3/h (168 m3 per day) at the entrance of the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation, which was repaired at the end of March.

In addition, the creation of new climatic shelters planned for the campus has been temporarily cancelled, which means an attenuation of the planting of around 200 trees.

Other measures to be implemented

At the same time, the UAB is currently in the phase of implementing another series of measures, such as the installation of 10 remote water metre readers in Building C.

The UAB is also in talks with the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) and the Agbar water company to change to a new regenerated water supplier on campus from the Riu Sec water treatment plant (EDAR-ERA Sabadell Riu Sec).

These measures not only seek to overcome the challenges of this current drought, but also set down the bases for a more sustainable future. The UAB invites all members of its community to actively participate, and acknowledge the importance of preserving water as an essential resource for future generations. The University reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and a responsible management of its resources.