The Vigo City Council has requested the regional government to authorise the use of treated wastewater from the Lagares treatment plant for street cleaning. This motion, presented by the Socialist party, criticises the Xunta de Galicia for its perceived irresponsibility and received backing solely from the ruling party's councillors.
During a plenary session, Javier Pardo, the councillor for Development, explained that this measure is urgent and necessary due to the ongoing severe drought affecting the Vigo region, with the Eiras reservoir at historically low levels. The council has been making this request since 2021, but has yet to receive a response from the Xunta. Allowing the use of treated water would enable the city to maintain street cleanliness without consuming potable water, similar to practices in cities like Madrid and Alicante.
The motion also urged the regional government to expedite the implementation of a plan agreed upon by the Spanish government, the Xunta, and the Vigo council to ensure water supply in the southern province. The construction of a new dam upstream of the Oitavén River has been identified as a viable solution to secure water supply for the entire southern region.
Pardo expressed disappointment with the Xunta's inaction and called on the regional Minister for Environment to take political responsibility for the delays, particularly after the local administration implemented responsible water consumption measures last July.
The motion was approved with votes from the PSOE, while the opposition parties, PP and BNG, opposed it. Additionally, the council supported a proposal from the ruling party to request that the Xunta triples its budget contributions to the city. Municipal spokesperson Carlos López Font estimated current contributions at €6.6 million, arguing that this should increase to €20 million by 2027. He emphasised that these funds should be flexible to allow the council to exercise its municipal autonomy.
