Skip to main content

Water quality. Made controls of continental and coastal waters

Water quality. Made controls in continental and coastal waters (surface and ground) Catalonia. 2022
Type of control
Control stations Elements physical-chemical Priority substances Biological elements Piezometric control Total
Rivers 433 3,055 1,033 340 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 4,428
Reservoirs 13 81 64 23 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 168
Wetland 83 73 41 73 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 187
Lakes 3 14 8 3 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 25
Coastal waters and bays 406 864 220 857 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 1,941
Groundwater 1,672 1,709 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 4,848 6,557
Total 2,610 5,796 1,366 1,296 4,848 13,306
Source: Agència Catalana de l'Aigua.
Note: From 2007, a new stage of adaptation to the requirements established by the Water Framework Directive began. Control of surface waters is carried out in accordance with the corresponding Monitoring and Control Programme in force in each 6-year period, which has been specified in the sampling and controls in this table.
(..) Confidential data, low reliability or not available.

Last update: June 16, 2023.

Methodological note

Methodological aspects

The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) manages and plans the water cycle, with a vision of integrated water systems, taking into account the balance of all ecosystems. Water becomes a basic structural and functional element to the environment and life. This management must be compatible with the growing demand for permanence, universality and immediacy of the citizens of an advanced society, and ensure quality and good service.

The data on water quality shows the controls registered in accordance with the Framework directive on water from the year 2007. For the study of the bathing water for beaches, rivers and lakes, the microbiological quality of the water is measured. For wastewater treatment plants, data is provided on the capacity of treatment, the population served and overall performance.

Unavailable information is represented using the symbol ":". When the value is lower than that of the minimum unit to be able to estimate the statistical operation or if it effects statistical confidentiality, the symbol used is "..".