Management of the sewerage systems in La Cerdanya, a high-mountain Pyrenean area
Client:
Consell Comarcal de la Cerdanya
Location:
Girona
Period:
2025-2028 +12
Type of service:
The Consell Comarcal de La Cerdanya has renewed its trust in Sorigué as a company with expertise in wastewater treatment in high-mountain areas , tasking it with the operation, maintenance and conservation of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
The contract extension, for an additional four years, benefits around 17,000 residents across the municipalities of Alp, Bellver de Cerdanya, Bolvir, Das, Guils de Cerdanya, Martinet, Masella, La Molina, Prats, Puigcerdà, Saneja, Sant Martí d’Aravó, Supermolina and El Vilar d’Urtx. This is in addition to the transient population, which can reach 125,000 people during the winter season.
Since 2021, Sorigué has provided comprehensive management of the region’s sewerage systems, an environment characterised by heavy snowfall, frost and complex access routes that can compromise the operation of the facilities. Technical expertise and the availability of in-house equipment enable the implementation of preventive and corrective measures to ensure service continuity.
Sorigué is a leading name in sewerage systems for high-mountain environments, with a proven track record at wastewater treatment plants such as those in the Aran Valley (Lleida), Sabiñánigo in the Aragonese Pyrenees and the Ripollès area in the Ter-Aro river basin.
Specifically in the La Cerdanya region, the company manages 14 WWTPs that treat over 11,600 m³ of wastewater daily. The rugged terrain, with peaks exceeding 3,000 m in altitude, makes the area prone to frosts that can isolate the systems. In this context, the systematisation of equipment and processes is key to facilitating rapid reconnection.
These forward-planning measures, aimed at preventing system disconnections in the event of isolation, are also particularly important to ensure that sludge management continues to operate normally.
Another characteristic of high-mountain areas is the infiltration of clean water into the sewers running parallel to rivers, which can be affected by breakages or ground movement.
To minimise the unnecessary treatment of clean water, Sorigué uses inspection camera robots to detect and correct these issues promptly.
A key aspect of this contract has also been the commitment to energy efficiency through the installation of solar PV panels for self-consumption, managed by Sorigué’s Energy team via its company Ecotelia.
These new solar PV installations cover between 30% and 35% of the electricity demand at the four largest WWTPs: Puigcerdà, Bellver de Cerdanya, Alp and Bolvir.
Through this comprehensive management approach, Sorigué helps preserve high-mountain ecosystems and provides a stable, efficient and sustainable sewerage service adapted to extreme weather conditions.
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