The AMB is launching a tender for over €1 billion for water management in eight municipalities

BarcelonaThe Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), which manages the drinking water supply service, has approved the tender to establish a private management model in the municipalities of Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, Palma de Cervelló, Molinos de Rei, Ripollet, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Tiana. The 25-year contract, valued at over €1 billion, will make it one of the largest public tenders in Catalonia. The eight municipalities will share water management through a single company that will provide the service, with different tariffs for each. This new model abandons the electoral proposal of some municipal governments for a publicly operated system. These metropolitan towns, with a combined population of approximately 230,000, need to renew their management contracts because their previous concession agreements have expired. Furthermore, they are outside the scope of Aigües de Barcelona, ​​which cannot participate in the tender approved this Tuesday by court order. The estimated value of the contract will total €1.078 billion. This figure is divided into €937.5 million for the 25-year contract and €140.6 million for an extension, which will have a maximum duration of 3 years and 9 months. The contract also includes a necessary investment of €168.7 million in the service for the eight municipalities. The deadline for submitting bids is two months. The AMB (Barcelona Metropolitan Area) expects to begin working with the new contractor during the second half of 2026. During the first year of service under the new concession, user rates will remain the same. This will allow the new concessionaire to implement the new system and plan the necessary actions in detail. From the second year onwards, the larger investments will begin to be implemented, which will affect the bill.

The tender was approved with votes in favor from the PSC, Vox, and Vivim Montcada i Reixac. The vote divided Junts, which is part of the AMB government along with the PSC and ERC. Junts members Àngel Pedrós, Cristina Paraira, and Josep Maria Vallès voted against, and Junts per Tiana abstained, while the rest of the group's councilors voted in favor. Separately, ERC, the PP, Compromís, and Acord per Torrelles abstained, and En Comú Podem voted against.