The Government says that certain sectors in Gibraltar have expressed concern as to the desirability of Gibraltar connecting to Spain for the supply of potable water following the recent water emergency shortage.
The Government says it would like to make explicitly clear that the decision to explore this possibility was taken at a Strategic Coordinating Group as a possible contingency measure.
A statement continued: “As a matter of fact, AquaGib already had infrastructure in place at the vicinity of the airport which was used many years ago to bring water from natural wells at British Lines to the Hesse’s blending tank where it was subsequently pumped into the network. These pipes are currently no longer in operation and new infrastructure is being laid.”
The Minister for Public Utilities, Albert Isola, said: ‘As a result of the fire at Power’s Drive Tunnel, the Government explored a number of contingency measures that could be considered, with some being more feasible than others. We imported significant volumes by road, and non- potable water by barge, as a result of the emergency. Work on all potential options began with the laying of the new pipe at the border being one such measure. I would like to reassure the community that the Government has no intention whatsoever of using this pipe as a permanent supply of potable water from Spain and it will only be used in the future as a contingency measure should an emergency event such as the one we have just experienced ever occur again. We will always ensure we are self-sufficient in our production of water. I am pleased to say that with the temporary RO plant now in operation, I hope to see our stock levels increasing significantly, avoiding the need for any further temporary measures.’
Father is the best of planners. He has assured us "waters will be sure" on The Rock. Whether this pipeline is needed or not, given that there is a water reserve inside the Rock, will be of interest.
Isa. 33:16 He shall dwell on Sion (2 Esd. 13:35): his place of defence [shall be] the Fortress of Rock: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.
Gibraltar prepares an underground pipeline to drink Spain's water: this is how it is progressing
Gibraltar is preparing an underground pipeline to supply itself with drinking water on "future emergency occasions". As Southern Europe advances, in the spring of 2024 it was at 80%. It connects with the border of Spain, or what is the same, with the Línea de la Concepción.
"80% of the stretch to the border with Spain has been built, but the budget to build the remaining 20% remains to be approved, which is the most expensive and most complicated part as it crosses a densely urbanized section," Gibraltar government sources explain to the aforementioned media. So, both its completion and its specific conditions of use are still "to be determined".
However, on the other side of the fence no one has news of this project. And the difficult thing will be to reach an agreement for the use of the pipeline, since it has been 4 years since the Rock left the European Union and the United Kingdom and the European Commission have not reached an agreement on the relationship with Gibraltar.
José Manuel Alcántara, general director of Arcgisa (Water and Waste of the Campo de Gibraltar) has confirmed to the aforementioned media that there has been no type of contact "neither officially nor unofficially". In addition, he confirmed that no agreement has been signed with Gibraltar in this regard.
But asked how to proceed in the event that the Rock asked for drinking water through that underground pipe, Alcántara confirms that "in the region we are going through a peculiar situation due to the drought so a request of this type, if it arrives, would have to be studied carefully". He indicates that when a fire affected the desalination plant in Gibraltar, occasional help was offered but "only that".