The works on the new stormwater pumping station of the Interceptor Nord canal are progressing in Castelldefels. The infrastructure, which will cost €14.6 million, will more than triple the water evacuation capacity.
The works on the new stormwater pumping station of the Interceptor Nord canal are advancing in Castelldefels with the aim of strengthening the municipality's protection against episodes of heavy rainfall. The infrastructure, promoted by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) in collaboration with the Castelldefels City Council and executed by the company Cox, will entail an investment of €14.6 million.
Once operational, the station will allow for more than a doubling of the current drainage capacity, increasing from 13 to 31 cubic metres per second. This qualitative leap will improve the network's performance during torrential rainfall, which is becoming increasingly frequent along the Mediterranean coast.
The installation will feature seven submersible pumps of 400 kW each, capable of evacuating 5.3 cubic metres per second. The system will be complemented by screening channels, suction chambers, and pumping cells designed to optimise the operation of the Interceptor Nord.
The geographical configuration of Castelldefels, with a densely urbanised coastal strip, makes it particularly relevant to have an efficient stormwater drainage system. The new station is part of the Catalonia Flood Risk Management Plan 2022-2027 and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which can cover up to 40% of eligible expenses.
The infrastructure will be completed with four main buildings: a control centre of about 300 square metres, a space for generators, a reception and measurement building, and another that will house two electrical transformation centres.
The works are being carried out in phases, and after the civil works are completed, the infrastructure will need to undergo a testing period before becoming operational. The project incorporates environmental and sustainability criteria, as well as restoration and landscape integration measures coordinated with the Castelldefels City Council. BIM (Building Information Modelling) methodology is used to monitor the project, facilitating the digital management of the various construction phases.
With this initiative, Castelldefels takes an important step in modernising its hydraulic infrastructure and gains capacity to face extreme weather phenomena associated with climate change.
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