The Catalan authorities have begun preparations to implement emergency measures due to the severe drought affecting the Barcelona region. With the Ter and Llobregat reservoirs at 19% of their maximum capacity and with the possibility of the situation worsening, the option of transporting water in boats to supply the city is being considered.
The Agència Catalana de l’Aigua has indicated that the metropolitan region will enter a state of emergency “in the next few days” if water reserves fall below 16%, as established in the Generalitat’s special drought plan.
This anticipated measure responds to the seriousness of the situation and seeks to guarantee an adequate water supply for the inhabitants of Barcelona.
The current drought in Barcelona has similarities to the one experienced in 2008, when water was also transported by boat to mitigate the shortage.
Despite recent rains in other parts of the Peninsula, Barcelona continues to face drought conditions, and the metropolitan area could enter a state of emergency in a matter of weeks.
Drought emergency plan contemplates transporting water in ships
The emergency phase would involve reducing per capita water consumption to 200 liters per day, compared to the current 230 liters.
In addition, contingency plans are contemplated for an extreme emergency situation, which would lead to an additional reduction to 160 liters per person per day. These measures seek to conserve water resources and prevent possible water shortages.
Samuel Reyes, director of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), has mentioned the possibility of transporting water in ships as one of the options on the table.
In the past, during the 2008 drought, Barcelona received water from neighboring basins via tankers. This strategy could be implemented again to guarantee water supply to the city.
The current situation highlights the importance of sustainable water management and the need to explore innovative solutions to address the challenges of climate change. Although recent rains have partially alleviated the drought in some parts of the peninsula, shortages persist on the Mediterranean coast and the situation of the reservoirs remains a cause for concern.
Measures in periods of drought in the past
In the past, water transport operations have been carried out in boats between different river basins, such as “Operation Boat” during the 1995 drought. This measure, although with ups and downs, has been used on several occasions to supply water to regions affected by shortages.
The drought situation in Barcelona is not an isolated case, as most of the Mediterranean coast of the peninsula has experienced a shortage of rainfall in recent months. Despite recent rainfall, the reservoir situation compared to previous years remains challenging.
