Catalonia is facing a state of emergency due to the prolonged drought that has affected the region for the last 30 months.
The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has taken unprecedented measures by declaring a state of emergency due to drought in 24 municipalities, which will be affected by water consumption restrictions.
This is the first time that the region has taken such a decision to address the lack of water resources.
The municipalities affected are 22 towns that depend on the Fluvià-Muga aquifer in the Alt Empordà region, Girona, and two towns that are supplied by the Riudecanyes reservoir in Baix Camp, Tarragona. Together, these communities have a total population of 26,000 inhabitants.
State of emergency due to drought
The situation is alarming, as levels in inland basins have reached historic lows and reservoirs continue to reduce their capacity due to high temperatures. For seven consecutive weeks, reservoirs have experienced a worrisome decline.
Faced with this critical situation, the Catalan administration has established a global consumption limitation of 200 liters per inhabitant per day.
However, it is important to clarify that this restriction will only apply to municipal services and will not directly affect the consumption of drinking water in homes at this initial stage.
In future phases, if the situation worsens, other measures, such as reducing water pressure, could be considered before opting for tighter restrictions.
The ACA emphasized the importance of responsible water use and recalled that the ideal consumption figure is 90 liters per person per day.
The restriction will also affect agricultural and industrial uses in some areas, with a reduction of 80% and 25%, respectively.
Likewise, the prohibition of filling or refilling swimming pools and watering public and private gardens will be maintained, with the exception of trees of special protection.
Measures and challenges in the face of water scarcity
The challenge of water scarcity in Catalonia is not new, but the duration and severity of this drought have led to more drastic measures.
For example, work on the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is expected to be completed in 2026, but water restrictions show the urgency of finding sustainable solutions to address the current crisis.
The ACA has recommended that the municipalities that depend on the Siurana reservoir, in Priorat, adopt similar measures to the municipalities that are supplied by the Riudecanyes reservoir, although the ACA has no authority to impose restrictions on Siurana because it is part of the Ebro basin, under the jurisdiction of the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE).
The ACA will meet with representatives of the 24 affected municipalities to provide support and work together to comply with the restrictions.
