36% of the municipalities in the internal basins of Catalonia (the rivers that are born and die in this community) do not comply with the water allocations imposed by the Generalitat in the special drought plan. The data was provided yesterday by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), which for the first time identifies councils that do not comply with the regulations.
The high percentage of councils that exceed the established water allocations in water consumption – 230 liters per person per day in the exceptional situation – is particularly worrying at this time of extreme drought. According to this latest report, presented by the director of the ACA, Samuel Reyes, 36% of municipalities exceed the limit of 230 liters per person/day. Pinós (Solsonès), with an expenditure of 1,339 litres, ranks first in this ranking. In addition, another 8% of municipalities (another worrying figure) have not even provided consumption information to the ACA, which means that they are also in breach of the rule.
The only consolation in the failure to comply with the drought plan of almost half of the Catalan municipalities – those that spend more and those that do not report – is that only 10% of the population of Catalonia lives in the area of ??the councils. The rest of the inhabitants (90%) have fixed their residence in 56% of the municipalities that are doing their homework and are concerned that the residents’ consumption does not exceed 230 liters per day per person. So, the inhabitants who are already aware of the need to save water win by a long way those who do not seem to understand the message.
The majority of councils that do comply with the regulations are around the metropolitan area, with Barcelona (168 litres) at the top. In the case of the Ter-Llobregat system, which, among others, supplies the municipality of Barcelona and its metropolitan area, in May some towns such as Sant Esteve Sesrovires (394 litres), Matadepera ( 363) and Cubelles (325). This is also the case for municipalities such as Castellet i la Gornal (427), Vilobí del Penedès (421) and Pacs del Penedès (383).
Between Osona and Garrotxa there are many councils in the same area that far exceed the limit established by the rule. Tavertet (543), Sant Feliu de Pallerols (463), Rupit i Pruit (439), the Plaines d’Hostoles (353) and the Vall d’en Bas (346) are some of the examples.
And it is surprising that the majority of municipalities that do not provide data on water consumption – despite the warning that they will be fined – are also concentrated in the same area, in this case in the province of Girona. The “black” list includes councils such as Bisbal d’Empordà, Torroella de Montgrí, Celrà, Vilopriu, Palau-sator, Ullastret, Verges and Forallac. Thirty sanctioning files have already been opened.
Further south, another area is drawn with a concentration of spending more water than permitted: Sant Celoni (293), Lloret de Mar (254), Sant Feliu Buixalleu (454) or Riudarenes (303).
But the “hottest” point on this map is located in Solsonès. Municipalities such as Pinós (1,339), Clariana de Cardener (784), Riner (562) and Olius (542) stand out there with skyrocketing water consumption. The director of the ACA clarifies that these soaring consumptions can be due to factors such as leaks in pipes or expenses in livestock farms or industry.
