Jornada sobre calidad del agua en Catarroja

Veolia and Valencia Plaza held a breakfast forum at the Puerto de Catarroja on Tuesday, June 3, focused on water treatment, sanitation and water quality in environmentally sensitive areas. The event took place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Comunitat de Pescadors de Catarroja, according to a preview published the day before. Organizers said the discussion would center on depuration systems, protection of natural spaces and the sustainable management of water resources. A recap published on June 3 said the debate also turned on the condition of the Albufera and the pressure that climate change, extreme weather and emerging pollutants are placing on water infrastructure. ### Who took part in the Catarroja forum? Lorena Silvent, mayor of Catarroja, joined Laura Gascón, Veolia’s territorial manager, María Flor, head of depuration at Veolia Comunitat Valenciana, Ignacio García of the Entidad Pública de Saneamiento de Aguas Residuales, and Javier Armengol, professor of microbiology and ecology at the Universitat de València. Javier Alfonso, director of Valencia Plaza, moderated the discussion, according to the organizers and the published event recap. (castellonplaza.com) A representative of the regional agriculture, water, livestock and fisheries department was also listed in the advance notice, though the recap specifically named the five speakers above. ### Why was the Albufera at the center of the discussion? The Albufera featured prominently because speakers described it as a sensitive ecosystem whose condition depends on the quality of incoming water. The June 3 recap said the wetland has seen gains from sanitation and depuration works, but now faces added strain from climate change, emerging contaminants and the need to adapt infrastructure to more frequent extreme events. (castellonplaza.com) Javier Armengol said researchers who have followed the Albufera for decades have seen “una mejora palpable” in the wetland and in many waterways connected to it. Armengol added that the main challenge remains ensuring that the lake receives water of sufficient quality to sustain its ecological balance. “Lo realmente importante en la Albufera es que llegue agua limpia,” he said, according to the recap. (castellonplaza.com) ### What did speakers say about depuration and sanitation systems? Depuration was presented as a core tool for improving the environmental condition of Valencian aquatic ecosystems. The June 2 preview said the forum would examine water quality, treatment systems and the role of coordination among public administrations, operators and the scientific community. Organizers said that coordination is needed to balance economic activity, traditional water uses and the conservation of high-value natural areas. (castellonplaza.com) Ignacio García’s presence brought in the public sanitation system through Epsar, the regional wastewater sanitation entity. María Flor and Laura Gascón represented Veolia’s operating and management perspective, while Armengol supplied the academic view on ecological effects tied to nutrient loads and water transparency, according to the published recap. (castellonplaza.com) ### What concrete environmental problem did Armengol describe? Armengol said excess nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, drive the proliferation of microalgae in the Albufera. The June 3 recap said that process reduces water transparency and leads to the loss of submerged plants that play a key role in how the ecosystem functions. His comments linked sanitation outcomes directly to ecological conditions in the lake rather than treating wastewater management as a separate technical issue. (castellonplaza.com) ### Why was Catarroja the setting for this event? Puerto de Catarroja sits next to the Albufera and has become a visible site for discussions about environmental recovery and water management in the area. The organizers said the forum was designed around sustainability in natural environments and the resilience of water systems under pressure. Holding it in the fishing community’s facilities placed the debate in a location tied to traditional water uses and the condition of the surrounding wetland. (castellonplaza.com) Valencia Plaza published a photo gallery and written recap of the event on June 3, 2026. Those reports identify the named participants and set out the next public reference point for the discussion: the published record of the forum, including remarks from Armengol and the speaker list led by Silvent, Gascón, Flor and García. (valenciaplaza.com) (castellonplaza.com)