Canal de Isabel II

Canal de Isabel II is the company that manages the bulk of water supplies for the Community of Madrid. It is primarily owned by the regional administration through the so-called Ente Público Canal de Isabel II, with a minor stake owned by local governments.

History

The Y in the abbreviated form of the company's name is from the old spelling Ysabel for Queen Isabel II, during whose reign a modern water supply was provided for Madrid. A canal was constructed to provide water from the catchment of the river Lozoya.
The water entered the city through its northern suburbs using gravity.

The Canal in the Community of Madrid

The Community of Madrid has a population of about 6.5 million people. To manage the necessary water resources, the Community operates, via Canal de Isabel II Gestión S.A., 14 dams; 75 underground water intakes; 13 drinking water treatment plants; 29 major and 285 minor regulating reservoirs; 17,163 kilometers of adduction and distribution network; 159 drinking water pumping stations and 125 sewage pumping stations; 11,148 kilometers of sewage network; 63 storm tanks; 751 kilometers of main sewers and outfalls; 156 wastewater treatment plants; and 347 kilometers network of reclaimed water.

The Canal in Latin America

In the 21st century the Canal expanded its operations to Latin America, where its acquisitions included a Brazilian water company called Emissão.