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DAM-L Spain Takes Aim at Water Distribution, Recycling Needs <fwd>
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From: Right to Water <right-to-water@iatp.org>
To: dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca
Subject: Spain Takes Aim at Water Distribution, Recycling Needs in
Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 14:08:15 -0500
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Message-ID: <20010529185813651.AAQ218.327@[208.141.36.73]>
Right to Water (right-to-water@iatp.org) Posted: 05/29/2001 By svarghese@iatp.org
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International Environment Reporter,
Volume 24 Number 11
Wednesday, May 23, 2001 Page 429
ISSN 1522-4090
News: Sustainable Development
Spain Takes Aim at Water Distribution, Recycling Needs in Parliamentary
Actions
PARIS--With a June 21 parliamentary vote deciding the fate of a $4 billion
water distribution project and plans for a national recycling network
already underway, Spain is catching up to its European Union allies in
environmental initiatives, the country's top environment official told BNA
May 17.
"The vote will help Spain go from a laggard [within the EU in terms of
water distribution] to a leader," Minister of Environment Jaume Matas Palou.
Spain's existing water distribution system is among the least efficient in
the EU. This is due in part to the ecological diversity of the country:
Parts of Spain are desert, and parts receive too much rain. The problem is
made worse by the country's agriculture system, which uses around 80
percent of the country's water, compared to around 50 percent in the EU as
a whole. "We have adequate water, but it's badly distributed," Matas said.
Matas was in Paris to participate in a sustainable energy conference hosted
by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The proposed system, which will create distribution networks and reroute
some existing water infrastructure, has been researched and has popular
support. Though some details have not been released to the public or are
still under negotiation, Matas said he expects parliament to pass it when
it votes in June.
One area where work is underway is in the area of recycling. Matas said the
country is in the midst of completing a multibillion dollar plan to recycle
waste and efficiently and cleanly incinerate nonrecyclables.
His estimates are that the country will recycle about 90 percent of its
waste by 2005, making it the EU leader in the area. That compares to 50
percent today and just 20 percent in 1990.
Matas said that the two projects, which are both being organized in large
part by the country's 17 regional governments with funds from the national
treasury and the EU, are part of a broad trend to focus on environmental
issues in Spain.
"For many years, the environment was an afterthought in Spain," he said.
"But with increased European integration, we are becoming more aware in
this important area."
By Eric J. Lyman
Copyright © 2001 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington D.C.
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