Eloi Tarrés: «The Urgell Canal is a country structure that needs to be modernized»

Twenty-five members of the ARA Premium Club They participated in the guided tour of the Urgell Canal last Saturday, a particularly cold and clear day. The tour included a visit to the museum, which explains the history of this canal in a very educational way. essential hydraulic infrastructure in the countryLocated in Mollerussa, the tour included two key points along the canal: the extraordinary iron bridge of Agramunt and the source of the Urgell Canal in Ponts, where the weir with a fishpond facilitates the intake of water from the Segre River into the canal. "This weir, which is over a hundred years old, is a very well-designed structure," remarked Eloi Tarrés, one of the oldest members of the Premium Club—he has been a member since its inception—who thoroughly enjoyed the activity. Participants were able to see all the now-obsolete machinery: large iron wheels that were manually turned to open and close the sluice gates and regulate the flow of water. Now everything works automatically.

The visit was led by Maribel Pedrol, director of the Canal de Urgell Foundation, who has conducted numerous guided tours and noted that "of all the groups I have had, this is one of those that has asked the most questions."

“The Urgell Canal needs to be modernized, the irrigation systems upgraded, so that the irrigated plain remains productive for many more years,” said Eloi Tarrés, standing next to the unusable waterwheels—under which thousands of liters of water flow—and pointing out that “currently, the canal's water also benefits people.” Tarrés emphasized “the passion with which Maribel Pedrol recounts the history of the Urgell Canal.” “When I returned, I shared the experience with many people.” "It was a very well-spent five hours."