Barcelona’s metropolitan authority, the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), has given final approval to the construction project that will move the Llevant wastewater collector inland. The 10.8-kilometre pipe currently runs along the north Barcelona coastline from Montgat to the Besòs treatment plant.
The decision affects Tiana, Montgat, Badalona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and part of Montcada i Reixac, all of which send wastewater through the system. For people in Badalona and Sant Adrià, the key change is that the collector is set to be shifted away from the coast to reduce the risk of damage from stronger sea storms.
AMB says the move will also free up the coastal strip the collector currently occupies, including land linked to the future Tres Xemeneies waterfront project. The route change is part of wider regeneration plans for the Besòs coastline and the former power station site between Sant Adrià and Badalona.
The final approval appears in the minutes of the June 2026 Metropolitan Council meeting published by AMB. Earlier procedural steps, including the initial approval, were also published through official metropolitan channels. Readers can follow related local coverage on our Community page.
According to AMB, the collector carries wastewater from six full municipalities and part of a seventh to the Besòs wastewater treatment plant, known in Catalan as the EDAR del Besòs. The approved step is the construction project itself, which allows the scheme to move into the delivery phase under AMB’s planning process.
Residents in Badalona and Sant Adrià who want to track works, routes or public notices should check AMB’s official project page and notices from their town halls, especially for any changes affecting the seafront, access areas or nearby public space. For more on how we verify official records, see our Editorial Policy and Source Transparency pages.
Primary sources: Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), Autoridad Portuaria de Barcelona / BOE, Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB).
