Surroundings in Andorra

There is no single nationwide office responsible for the entire environment in Andorra. The municipal council (Comú) is responsible, among other things, for waste collection, paths, road maintenance and municipal public spaces and, depending on the municipality, for water extraction, treatment and distribution. Service channels, charges and collection times therefore vary locally. The Government of Andorra (Govern d’Andorra) is responsible for national regulation, measurements, risk information and access to applicable law through the Official Gazette (BOPA) and the Legal Portal (Portal Jurídic). Infrastructure planning studies assess, among other things, drinking-water supply, wastewater treatment, energy distribution, waste disposal and the handling of soil and rocks. Building law takes account of rainwater reuse, energy efficiency, renewable energy and economical drinking-water use. This does not create a general entitlement to access private networks. Water quality is monitored nationwide. In 2025, 72 percent of monitoring stations recorded good physico-chemical quality; biological quality was excellent or good at 94.5 percent of monitoring stations. Almost 100 percent of wastewater was treated. Andorra has four wastewater treatment plants in Pas de la Casa, in the northwestern and northeastern areas, and in the south. Water abstraction for drinking water requires a permit or registration, including for isolated houses. Monthly bulletins and the annual balance provide information on water availability and possible scarcity. Depending on the matter, responsibility lies with the Government, the water supplier or the relevant municipal council. In 2025, air monitoring recorded excellent or good quality at 85.9 percent of monitoring stations; poor or very poor values occurred at 2.2 percent. Three fixed and two mobile stations measure, among other pollutants, nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. Traffic and heating, as well as winter inversion conditions, can increase pollution. Saharan dust can cause individual episodes. Ozone is monitored particularly closely from May to September, and pollen information is published weekly on aire.ad. Measurements apply to the respective station and do not guarantee a particular air quality at every residential location. In 2025, 90 percent of noise-monitoring stations were within the target values; seven percent deviated from them. The main sources are traffic, construction work and individual events. The noise cadastre (Cadastre sonor) from 2017 and 2018 identifies acoustic sensitivity zones. Construction and event planning may require noise protection or an acoustic impact study. Depending on the circumstances, complaints and enforcement are directed to the Government or the municipal council. Nationwide rules also apply to outdoor lighting: watercourses, lakes and ponds may not be lit directly; shop windows and advertising may be lit only until 1 a.m., and ski areas only until 22 h. New installations may use no more than 3,000 Kelvin and may not emit white light; roads, paths, parks, gardens and car parks may remain lit throughout the night for safety reasons. The Sectoral Plan for Green Infrastructure of Andorra (Pla sectorial d’infraestructures verdes d’Andorra) links green, car-free paths, urban nodes and proximity to rivers. The initial plan covers 25 kilometres; the connection from Sant Julià de Lòria to Ordino has already been completed, while the eastern section between Encamp and Canillo is being expanded. In Encamp, a footpath approximately 600 metres long and around two metres wide was documented in 2025 with project costs of 368,150 euros. The paths are generally publicly accessible, but their actual accessibility depends on the section. Questions about protected areas, biodiversity and nature belong in the Nature topic. The Accessibility Act (Llei d’accessibilitat) of 1995, amended in 2017, and the Accessibility Regulation (Reglament d’Accessibilitat) provide the legal framework for accessible paths, parks and outdoor spaces. The Commission for the Promotion of Accessibility (Comissió per al foment de l’accessibilitat), regulated in 2026, advises the Government, promotes universal accessibility, assesses compliance and reports every three years. Where topographical or structural constraints exist, a proportionate alternative solution may be required; the specific assessment remains case-dependent. Relevant everyday risks include flooding, heavy rainfall, avalanches, rockfalls, slope movements, snow and heat. The IDE Andorra risk-mapping service (IDE Andorra) provides risk maps, the Meteo Andorra weather service (Meteo Andorra) publishes warnings, and Civil Protection (Protecció Civil) organises prevention, plans, evacuations, protective instructions and warnings. Avalanche zones are monitored in winter; preventive releases may be carried out when necessary. Emergency numbers are 110 for the police, 112 for general emergencies, 116 for medical emergencies and 118 for the fire service. A personal emergency plan with a Catakit emergency kit (Catakit) can supplement preparedness. Territorial planning involves the Government, the General Council (Consell General), the seven municipal councils, businesses, associations and the public. The ENPA 2021–2035 environmental plan (ENPA 2021–2035) incorporates public input, river areas, landscapes and infrastructure. Risk maps and plans may be made available for public consultation; applicable law is freely accessible through the Official Gazette and the Legal Portal. A participatory budget for territorial construction and maintenance projects has already been used, but its scope depends on the respective responsibilities. Act 32/2022 (Llei 32/2022) links spatial development to the actual capacity of water, wastewater, energy, waste and other infrastructure. In June 2026, Government reports were available for six parishes (Parròquies); supplementary data were still missing for Escaldes-Engordany. After approval by the municipal councils, the respective municipal urban development plans (POUP) must be amended. This does not automatically permit new development, because local planning and licensing requirements must also be checked. For waste, the objective is to achieve a 65 percent recycling rate for municipal waste by 2035. Glass, paper and cardboard, packaging, organic waste, textiles, oils, waste electrical equipment, batteries, medicines and vehicle waste are collected separately. In 2025, 51,092 tonnes of municipal waste were generated; paper and cardboard formed the largest recycling fraction. Since 2026, the Government has for the first time taken over paper and cardboard from municipal separate collection. Separation, collection method and opening hours depend on the municipal council; a uniform fee model is not evidenced.