www.futurenviro.es | Febrero-Marzo February-March 2022 38 A fondo: Análisis 2021 | In depth: 2021 Analysis El sector del agua ha continuado con la situación de atonía de los últimos años. La falta de inversiones y los incumplimientos de la Directiva Marco del Agua han persistido y, en consecuencia, seguimos teniendo cuentas pendientes con Europa y pagando multas. Además, la pandemia ha propiciado subidas excepcionales de los precios de las materias primas, de manera que las obras se han encarecido alrededor del 30%; una situación insostenible para las empresas. Pero a pesar de ello, los servicios del ciclo urbano del agua se han prestado con normalidad, demostrando que son un servicio esencial para la seguridad y bienestar de las personas. El año 2021, como sucedió en 2020, ha transcurrido con sus altibajos bajo la amenaza constante de la pandemia. Conviene acostumbrarse a la situación, pero la realidad se impone y el virus con sus oleadas sigue sometiendo a las personas, que poco a poco nos vamos acostumbrando a convivir con él, a lo que no obsta que su presencia tenga efectos negativos para la economía y la sociedad. El sector del agua sigue viviendo años de incertidumbre pese a que todos sabemos que el agua es imprescindible para la vida, sin embargo, no se le presta la debida atención y en consecuencia le siguen llegando promesas políticas pero escasas inversiones y el patrimonio hidráulico, que forma parte esencial del desarrollo de los países, en vez de crecer mengua y con él las posibilidades de un adecuado desenvolvimiento económico y social. Los servicios del ciclo urbano del agua se siguen prestando con normalidad, lo que significa que, salvo excepciones, el agua sale por el grifo con la calidad debida y el agua residual, como por ensalmo, continúa desapareciendo de los hogares. Esto a costa de las empresas que proporcionan los correspondientes servicios que, con cierta frecuencia, tienen que asumir responsabilidades exorbitantes que van más allá, en muchos casos, de sus obligaciones contractuales. Durante la pandemia han seguido operando, incluso en los momentos de confinamiento total a costa de sacrificios personales y económicos. Con esta referencia no aludimos a hechos heroicos, pero con ella queda muy claro que tienen arraigada la idea de que prestan servicios esenciales para la seguridad y bienestar de las personas. The water sector has continued with the sluggish scenario of recent years. Lack of investment and non-compliance with theWater Framework Directive have persisted. The result is that we still have pending issues in order to achieve compliance with EU regulations and we continue to pay sanctions. Moreover, the pandemic has led to exceptional increases in rawmaterial prices, meaning that the cost of civil works has increased by around 30%, an unsustainable situation for companies. Despite this, urban water cycle services have been provided with normality, demonstrating that these are essential services for the safety and well-being of the people. In the same way as 2020, the year 2021 continued to be one of ups and downs and marked by the constant threat of the pandemic. It is necessary to become accustomed to the situation, but the reality is inescapable, and the different waves of the virus continue to affect people. We are gradually getting used to living with it, though this does not prevent it from having adverse effects on the economy and society. The water sector continues to experience years of uncertainty despite the fact that we all know that water is essential for life. However, it is not given due attention and, as a result, political promises continue to be made but there is little investment. Water assets, which are an essential part of the development of nations, are diminishing rather than growing and, consequently, so too are the possibilities of adequate economic and social development. Urban water cycle services continue to be provided normally, which means that, with some exceptions, water of appropriate quality comes out of the tap and wastewater continues to disappear from households as if by magic. This is at the expense of the companies providing these services, which often have to take on exorbitant responsibilities that frequently go beyond their contractual obligations. During the pandemic, these companies have continued to operate, even in times of total lockdown, at the cost of personal and economic sacrifices. This is not a reference to heroic deeds, but it does make it very clear that companies in the sector have an ingrained sense of the fact that they are providing services that are vital for the safety and well-being of people. In the year just gone by, the water sector continued to develop under the weight of the hardship of recent years. The drought of investments and the corollary of this, i.e., non-compliance with the Water Framework Directive, have continued and therefore we continue to have pending issues with Europe we continue to pay fines, without anyone seeming to care! There is a senseless side to this. The money paid in sanctions could be used to carry out the necessary actions to avoid non-compliance, but this is not happening, so we continue to pay. Now the question is: why is this not happening? If anyone knows the full answer, we would be grateful if they were to make it public. In the meantime, we will continue to think that the only concern of those responsible for the situation is to keeping things running, overlooking the fact consciously or otherwise, that regardless of the ANÁLISIS DE 2021. PRONÓSTICOS Y NECESIDADES 2022 2021 ANALYSIS. 2022 FORECASTS AND NEEDS Javier Romero de Córdoba Presidente de ASAGUA Presidente de ASAGUA
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