The salinization of rivers is a global problem affecting countries all over the world. Climate change and increasing water consumption is further worsening the outlook for the future, according to research developed by an international team led by experts from the Department of  Ecology of the University of Barcelona; Narcís Prat and Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles and others.

In Europe, the process of salinization of rivers due to human activities is getting worse and it is also a problem in Spain. This video discusses salinization in the Catalan river systems, such as the Llobregat River basin, which is supported by Mesocosmos Sostaqua, a project located at the water-treatment plant of Balsareny and designed to improve water sustainability. According to Narcís Prat, “the levels of salinity at the lower stretches of the Llobregat River, where the area of potash mining begins, are so high that it can only be used for agricultural, not human consumption.  The same is true for the lower stretches of the Besòs River, where the water also becomes saltier.  Here the reason is not mining but all the processes developed to decalcify the water, for example in dishwashers, when we add salt to avoid the stains that lime scale will cause". 

“El Medi Ambient” is a daily program directed by Xavier Duran for the TV3 information service, one of the channels of the regional “Televisió de Catalunya”. It aims to provide an informative but rigorous overview of environmental issues to a broad audience. The programs are not only about natural areas, biodiversity and archaeological remains but also innovation, economics, welfare and health, and they always try to reflect different sides of the argument.

More info: El Medi Ambient

Produced by: TV3

Language: Catalan, English subtitles

Year: 2013

Region: Europe

• salinity
• water
• rivers
• salinisation
• Narcís
• Prat
• Besòs
• Miguel
• Cañedo-Argüelles
• Llobregat
• El
• Medi
• ambient
• TV3
• mining
• climate
• change
• catalan

Details

Categories: Salinity