00:00More than 900 tons of suspended solids are kept from reaching the sea each year by rainwater tanks in Barcelona.
00:06This figure comes from the city's efforts to manage heavy rainfall and reduce pollution.
00:11According to local authorities,
00:13when rain falls heavily, stormwater mixes with domestic wastewater underground,
00:18carrying fecal bacteria and urban pollutants like heavy metals and oils.
00:23Treatment plants can handle only so much flow before excess water is discharged,
00:27untreated into rivers, or the sea through relief points.
00:31These discharges degrade water quality and often lead to temporary beach closures marked by red flags.
00:37Spain's bathing waters are classified by bacterial contamination levels,
00:42but monitoring stops outside the summer season and does not cover all pollutants.
00:46Cities are using green infrastructure and separate sewer systems to reduce runoff.
00:51While new European rules require better discharge management,
00:54the goal is to let rainwater behave naturally, filtering into the ground rather than rushing to the sea.
01:01Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
01:06This video contains stock footage,
