The metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain’s second city, was placed in a state of “emergency” by the authorities on Thursday due to the historic drought affecting this region in the northeast of the country, where water reserves have reached a critical level. This decision, announced by the president of the Catalan regional government Pere Aragonès, will result in new limits on water consumption for six million inhabitants in total, with strong restrictions, in particular for industry and agriculture. .
Restrictions for agriculture
“Catalonia is suffering from its worst drought in a century. We have never been confronted with such a long and intense episode since we have been keeping rainfall records,” explained Pere Aragonès during a press conference, recalling that the lack of precipitation had lasted for more than three years. Catalan authorities had been preparing the public opinion for weeks by announcing that a state of emergency would be declared if the level of reservoirs, storing rainwater for use during drier months, fell below 16%. .
However, this level has been reached in recent days, the persistence of dry weather having aggravated the already extreme drought of the soil on the Catalan coast, both in France and in Spain. The entry into the first phase of the state of “emergency”, which includes three, will result in significant restrictions for agriculture, which will have to reduce its water consumption by 80%, and for industry, which will have to restrict it by 25%.
No water cuts
The maximum average consumption ceiling for residents of the 202 municipalities in the region affected by the restrictions has been lowered slightly and will be further reduced if the situation worsens. Apart from a few municipalities where the pressure will decrease, this measure will not lead to tap water cuts for residents. But sanctions are on the other hand planned for localities not respecting this maximum threshold.
This emergency plan also prohibits the filling of swimming pools, even for a simple upgrade, except in public sports facilities saving water at other levels. Watering green spaces is also now prohibited, except with non-potable water in public gardens and when the survival of trees is at stake. Same thing for washing cars. In recent weeks, regional authorities have not ruled out supplying Barcelona with water using tankers.