Le projet franco-espagnol d'aqueduc Rhône-Catalogne

The Rhone Catalonia aqueduct : a french spanish project

¹ ISIM, Université Montpellier II
² BRL

Abstract

The Rhone Catalonia aqueduct aims at transferring a volume of m³ 300 million (10 m³/s), in order to guarantee, both in quantity and quality, urban water supply to 5 million inhabitants. The works will comprise an underground conveyor of m 2.40 of diameter and 320 km long. Feasibility studies were undertaken since 1995, allowing to establish technical solutions which were cross checked by technico-economic studies. Each technical solution was coupled with detailed economic and financial studies based on financial modelisation and taking into account several parameters. The results of those studies led to an optimised technical solution and thorough study of water cost sensitivity. Such considerations provided an accurate knowledge of the impact of the transfer's costs on the involved population. They were also an opportunity to deal with more general aspects concerning water and economics.