BARCELONA: Spain’s second city Barcelona and much of the adjacent region of Catalonia declared a drought emergency on Thursday, paving the way for tighter water restrictions after three years without significant rainfall.
The president of Catalonia’s regional government, Pere Aragones, announced the new restrictions after water levels in reservoirs in the Mediterranean region fell below 16 percent of full capacity.
That’s the benchmark set by authorities for a new round of water-saving measures that will affect about six million people.
“Catalonia is suffering from the worst drought in the last century… We have never faced such a long and intense drought since the rains started,” Aragones told reporters.
Rainwater levels in some reservoirs in Catalonia are so low that old bridges and church bells have reappeared.
The emergency measures are designed to reduce the daily amount of water households and local authorities can use: from 210 to 200 liters (55 to 52 gallons) per person.
If the drought worsened, the limit could be reduced to 180 litres, then 160 litres.
Water restrictions will apply to the regional capital of Barcelona and 201 surrounding local councils from Friday, affecting around six million people.
The measures include a ban on fresh water in swimming pools with some exceptions for recognized sports use. Cars can now only be washed with recycled water and public gardens irrigated with groundwater.
If the drought persists, stricter restrictions could be put in place, such as the closing of showers in gyms and a complete ban on watering in public parks. Farms and industry will also face bigger cuts.
The emergency measures aim to reduce the amount of water used to irrigate crops by 80 percent, doubling the 40 percent reduction introduced last November.
Industry must reduce water consumption by 25 percent, compared to 15 percent previously.
Aragones said, “We will overcome the drought through cooperation, joint efforts, planning and well-directed investment.”
Rainfall has been lower than the average in Catalonia in the last three years.
Andalusia
As well as Catalonia in north-east Spain, the southern region of Andalucia is another one facing severe drought.
Regional authorities there have warned that water use restrictions will be needed in Malaga and Seville this summer if the rain does not return.
Andalusia and Catalonia are the two most populous regions of Spain.
Both plan to import fresh water by boat if needed, a costly option that officials admit would not adequately compensate for the lack of rain.
