History of the Water System in Barcelona
Overview of Water System in Barcelona
Barcelona was one of Spain’s leading industrialist cities, however the development of extensive water system was not influenced by the city’s prominence in industry. Instead, the water system was revolutionized by the introduction of the expansion plan of 1859. The approval of the expansion plan enabled private businesses to take over the water system planning. However, the private sector was mostly interested in making money not aiding the community. Later on during the twentieth century, several decisive actions were taken that enabled the rise of several water companies, efficient sewer system and water supply in people’s homes. This transformation of the water system took a century- from 1867 to 1967.
History of Water System Plans
The first water supply dated back to the Middle Ages, where the purpose of the water supply was to provide water for public fountains. This archaic system gathered filtered water from the slopes of Serra de Collserola, a mountain range four kilometers from Barcelona. [1] The water from the filtration sites converged at water tank, Caseta de Jesus, which was situated 700 meters from the city wall and stood at a height of 23 meters above sea level. [1] The water was then distributed to public drinking fountains, institutions and a few wealthy homes.
However, this medieval system was expensive and had several shortcomings, few of which were breakage of pipes, lime deposits, transport losses and breakdown of the filtration sites. Further more, the constant spells of droughts resulted in shortage of water. Due to the shortage of water, both private and public sectors demanded better water supply. However, the city could not fulfill the wishes due to municipal budget restrictions. Finally, in 1824, the wishes of the public and private sectors were fulfilled when the King assigned more water to the province of Barcelona.
1859 Expansion Plan- Iildefons Cerda` Plan
The new water system that catered water to Barcelona’s expansion district was built in 1859 based on Cerda`’ plan. The goal of the new design was to provide sufficient water supply to the city as well as elevate the water storage so that it can store enough water for the newly expanded city.
Failures in Planning
In 1870, the Barcelona City Council finally took the initiative to create a general plan for the renewal of the water system network. The plan proposed to include water ducts as another source of gather water. Further more, in 1879 steam engines were added to draw up water. However, the plan could not be carried out any further due to legal obstacles and leaky network. Plans had been made later to fix the leaky connections and upgrade the water system but they went unfulfilled. Therefore, Barcelona had to make do with mediocre water system that could not provide enough water for needs of the people.
Barcelona was one of Spain’s leading industrialist cities, however the development of extensive water system was not influenced by the city’s prominence in industry. Instead, the water system was revolutionized by the introduction of the expansion plan of 1859. The approval of the expansion plan enabled private businesses to take over the water system planning. However, the private sector was mostly interested in making money not aiding the community. Later on during the twentieth century, several decisive actions were taken that enabled the rise of several water companies, efficient sewer system and water supply in people’s homes. This transformation of the water system took a century- from 1867 to 1967.
History of Water System Plans
The first water supply dated back to the Middle Ages, where the purpose of the water supply was to provide water for public fountains. This archaic system gathered filtered water from the slopes of Serra de Collserola, a mountain range four kilometers from Barcelona. [1] The water from the filtration sites converged at water tank, Caseta de Jesus, which was situated 700 meters from the city wall and stood at a height of 23 meters above sea level. [1] The water was then distributed to public drinking fountains, institutions and a few wealthy homes.
However, this medieval system was expensive and had several shortcomings, few of which were breakage of pipes, lime deposits, transport losses and breakdown of the filtration sites. Further more, the constant spells of droughts resulted in shortage of water. Due to the shortage of water, both private and public sectors demanded better water supply. However, the city could not fulfill the wishes due to municipal budget restrictions. Finally, in 1824, the wishes of the public and private sectors were fulfilled when the King assigned more water to the province of Barcelona.
1859 Expansion Plan- Iildefons Cerda` Plan
The new water system that catered water to Barcelona’s expansion district was built in 1859 based on Cerda`’ plan. The goal of the new design was to provide sufficient water supply to the city as well as elevate the water storage so that it can store enough water for the newly expanded city.
Failures in Planning
In 1870, the Barcelona City Council finally took the initiative to create a general plan for the renewal of the water system network. The plan proposed to include water ducts as another source of gather water. Further more, in 1879 steam engines were added to draw up water. However, the plan could not be carried out any further due to legal obstacles and leaky network. Plans had been made later to fix the leaky connections and upgrade the water system but they went unfulfilled. Therefore, Barcelona had to make do with mediocre water system that could not provide enough water for needs of the people.
Sanitation and its role in Water Network Planning
One of the main problems that water system construction faced was the lack of efficient sanitation network. As the population grew in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the houses increased in numbers but the latrine pits that surrounded the houses did not. Furthermore, the latrine pits were situated near the clean water supply, which resulted in pollution of the filtered water. The lack of effort made to improve the sanitation system resulted in a foul smelling environment in Barcelona. Efforts were made to clean the latrine pits, however, the efforts were not overarching. Only 57% of the sewers installed were in good conditions. Despite best efforts and criticism, renewal of sewer system was not followed through in the expansion plan. [1]
One of the main problems that water system construction faced was the lack of efficient sanitation network. As the population grew in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the houses increased in numbers but the latrine pits that surrounded the houses did not. Furthermore, the latrine pits were situated near the clean water supply, which resulted in pollution of the filtered water. The lack of effort made to improve the sanitation system resulted in a foul smelling environment in Barcelona. Efforts were made to clean the latrine pits, however, the efforts were not overarching. Only 57% of the sewers installed were in good conditions. Despite best efforts and criticism, renewal of sewer system was not followed through in the expansion plan. [1]
Private Companies’ designs for Water Supply
In September following the end of World War I, a typhoid epidemic of huge proportions broke out. Initially the public blamed Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona (SGAB.) SGAB was created in 1867 when private companies that previously used to fund the water system went bankrupt. The goal of this stronger private company was to provide Barcelona a strong infrastructure for water system- something that Barcelona was previously lacking. [2] Later on, it was confirmed that the municipal water filtration site in Montcada had been infected. The Barcelona City Council was very late in responding to the epidemic breakout and took measure to rectify the situation until after a whole month of infected water had been spreading.
The water from the filtration site in Montcada, a previously esteemed site, had to be shut down and sterilized, which forced SGAB to come up with new measures to provide the population of Barcelona with water. However, the renewal filtration system in Montcada came up with new plans to renovate the site during, therefore stalling the SGAB plans. The plan included a pumping station and a tank to draw up and distribute water. Previous predated materials were replaced with modern materials such as reinforced cement ducts and iron pipes. The plan took from 1914 till 1920 to implement. However, the plan was hastily installed and did not accompany an increase in water supply. Therefore, Montcada filtration system did not delay the SGAB for a long period of time.
Post War and Water Consumption in Public Domain
As the population grew in the metropolitan area, the supply of clean water became mandatory. To fulfill the needs of the growing population, SGAB proposed a plan where surface water can be collected from the Llobregat River. In opposition, the Hydrographic Confederation of the Eastern Pyrenees, which was supported by the Barcelona City Council, proposed to transfer water from Ter River to Barcelona. However, after much rivalry, both private sectors decide to team up and come up with a comprehensive plan.
From 1955 to 1965, the water from the Llobregat River solved the lack of water supply in Barcelona. Later in 1967, water supply from the Ter River became a substantial source of water. From this moment on, water entered not only public and private places but also the homes of the inhabitants in Barcelona.
References
[1] Manel Guardia, Maribel Rossello and Sergi Garriga (2014). Barcelona's water supply, 1867–1967: the transition to a modern system. Urban History, 41, pp 415-434 doi:10.1017/S0963926813000692
[2] Agbar. (2015). SGAB. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.agbar.es/es/quienes-somos
Media
[1] Serra de Collserola Location [Web photo]. Retrieved from http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Serra-de-Collserola
[2] Latrine Pit Layout [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.sswm.info/content/single-pit
[3] Latrine Pit [Web Photo]. Retrieved http://www.totallandcare.org/Profile/PhotoGalleries/WaterSanitation/tabid/92/Default.aspx
[4] Location of Montcada [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Santa-Maria-de-Montcada/forecasts/latest
[5] Location of Ter and Lloregat River [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.socopse.se/casestudies/terandllobregat.4.3d9ff17111f6fef70e9800050440.html
[1] Manel Guardia, Maribel Rossello and Sergi Garriga (2014). Barcelona's water supply, 1867–1967: the transition to a modern system. Urban History, 41, pp 415-434 doi:10.1017/S0963926813000692
[2] Agbar. (2015). SGAB. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.agbar.es/es/quienes-somos
Media
[1] Serra de Collserola Location [Web photo]. Retrieved from http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Serra-de-Collserola
[2] Latrine Pit Layout [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.sswm.info/content/single-pit
[3] Latrine Pit [Web Photo]. Retrieved http://www.totallandcare.org/Profile/PhotoGalleries/WaterSanitation/tabid/92/Default.aspx
[4] Location of Montcada [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Santa-Maria-de-Montcada/forecasts/latest
[5] Location of Ter and Lloregat River [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.socopse.se/casestudies/terandllobregat.4.3d9ff17111f6fef70e9800050440.html